Report: Xaivian Lee makes decision to forgo 2025 NBA Draft, will play for Florida

Xaivian Lee is the highest-rated of two commitments in the transfer portal so far for Florida. He’ll now officially be heading to Gainesville with reporting on his latest decision.

Per his representation at GSL Sports Group, Lee will not be testing for the 2025 NBA Draft. That turns his full attention to the Gators now for his senior season there.

Lee committed to Florida last week out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. He did so after spending three seasons at Princeton. Lee appeared in 91 games, 59 being starts the past two seasons, and averaged 12.7 points (43.5% FG, 33.4% 3PT), 4.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for the Tigers. He improved those to 17 points (44.5% FG, 35.2% 3PT on 1.9 threes), 5.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals as their starter in being unanimously selected in consecutive seasons as First Team All-Ivy League.

Lee entered the portal, with a do-not-contact tag, back at the start of April. He then committed to the Gators two weeks later over other top programs like St. John’s, Kansas, Duke, and Kentucky after a visit down to The Swamp a few days prior. Florida has since announced their signing of him earlier this week.

“We are elated to welcome Xaivian Lee into our program here at the University of Florida,” Todd Golden said in the statement. “We strive to identify high-achieving young men who excel in all areas of their lives, and Xaivian is a great example. Xaivian is an electric play-maker that is an equal threat to score or facilitate off the bounce. He does a great job of leading the team, putting his teammates in position to be successful while taking great care of the basketball. While our three senior leaders move on from the perimeter, it was really important to add someone of Xaivian’s caliber both as a player and as a person.”

Lee is one of a pair of pickups to this point during this offseason for Florida. He is the higher-rated of the two as, per the latest update to On3’s Industry Ranking of 2025’s Top Transfer Portal Players, he is at No. 38 overall and as the No. 8 PG. They also earned that second commitment earlier this morning from AJ Brown (Ohio). That after losing a pair of players to the portal last week as well in Denzel Aberdeen (Kentucky) and Sam Alexis.

These are key additions for the Gators, specifically in the backcourt, considering all they’ve lost from their championship-winning team earlier this month in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. All four of their top guards in Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard are out of eligibility and Aberdeen is transferring in conference. Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu are then testing for the draft themselves, while maintaining their collegiate eligibility, on top of Alexis’ transfer.

Lee is the best addition of this offseason right now for the Gators. He now looks to be officially coming to the program for next season with his reported decision to forego the NBA Draft.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.