Where NBA Draft stock of Florida stars stands after national championship run

The Florida Gators completed their 2024-25 national title run behind a team effort, which saw multiple players blossom from solid college basketball players into potential NBA Draft picks over the course of the season. While the star players stole the show, the professional potential runs deep for this team.

Todd Golden’s schemes on offense and defense put these players in the best position to not only compete at the top of the sport, but showcase their talent moving forward. From perimeter playmakers to the versatile centers, the roster featured a lot of growth from start to finish.

Now, with the trophy lifted high, it is time to look at which Florida players have the best chance to find NBA success, whether this offseason or in the years to come. After all, the group of national champions in Gainesville saw plenty guys run it back.

Walter Clayton

Walter Clayton became the star of the show for Florida this season, bursting onto the scene with NBA Draft scouts during a magical run through March Madness which saw his name beside some of the game’s best athletes. The rise up boards runs deeper than that, as he answered important questions about his skillset in big moments where the result promises to translate.

There is no question Clayton can score, even at 6-foot-2. The star went into the final stretch of his college career looking to prove that he could do so while facilitating the offense and reading the defense.

The offensive game of Clayton was on full display, with his electric outside shot drawing bold comparisons throughout the season. His 18.3 points per game saw a big boost down the stretch, when he played his best basketball and found a real scoring rhythm which used the perimeter success to create downhill offense as well. 44.8-percent from the field, 38.6-percent from 3, and 87.5-percent from the free-throw line all project well particularly in situations he will not be the primary focus of a scouting report.

He has played well within the team construct on defense, often taking the easiest defensive assignment for long stretches to protect him on offense, as is expected for the star player. But there are not large samples of defensive lapses to point to, which make his XX stocks per game looks like at least a positive data point.

Alex Condon

The NBA Draft hype picked up for Alex Condon some point through the middle of the season, where his raw tools started to round into a high-impact player with room to grow on both ends of the floor. The model for a modern NBA big is clear when watching him operate on both ends, making him a favorite of many looking for a development project at center.

During the season, the 6-foot-11 playmaker fit a multitude of roles, learning through the bumps and bruises as he fit next to teammates who filled similar spaces or guarded opponents with a skillset he never faced before. Growing from each moment, the final result was an impact performance which shaped a national championship season.

The offensive game of Condon is still developing from a numbers perspective, with his averages sitting at 10.6 points on 49.3, 32.8, 60.4 splits. The counting stats will likely improve as he grows into his game, but the real excitement is seen when he facilitates the action from the high-post in multiple sets.

There are also raw tools visible on defense, where he continued to grow as an interior presence and learned to disrupt pick-and-rolls. The 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game scratch the surface as he posted a 96.1 defensive rating and 2.1 defensive win shares.

Thomas Haugh

Thomas Haugh has officially entered the 2025 NBA Draft conversation. One of the top prospects to return next season and blossom into a surefire first-round pick in 2026, he has now done enough to at least test the waters this offseason and draw interest from a wide range of teams looking to add the sparkplug energy he possesses.

At 6-foot-9, Haugh brings good size to the power forward position to pair with his incredible athletic traits. And with his thin build on top of it, there is plenty reason to believe he could play small forward in bigger lineups as he continues to grow his offensive package and play alongside bigs with different skillsets.

On offense, Haugh provides consistent energy in pick-and-rolls or pick-and-pop opportunities when he is feeling it from beyond the arc. While he averaged just 9.8 points on 48.5, 34.0, 79.4 splits this season, there is plenty reason to believe those numbers can shoot up over time given his consistency to find the right spot on the floor.

The unsung hero of Florida’s run finds his best value on defense, where he averages 1.6 stocks per game to complement his 6.1 rebounds. Those numbers do not tell the full story either as he switches almost any matchup on his way to posing a 99.4 defensive rating, 1.9 defensive win share and 4.4 defensive box plus-minus.

Alijah Martin

Alijah Martin has not draw widespread NBA Draft praise, largely because of his 6-foot-2 frame as an off-ball guard. However, there is so much to like about his ability to compete on both ends that he should draw second-round interest and at least get the opportunity to play for a two-way deal this offseason.

Despite lacking the size needed to score and guard at a high level, standing well shorter than many of the matchups he could face in the NBA, there is a special tenacity present throughout his college career which promises to translate into a reliable bench role which could keep him on a roster with hopes of development.

On offense, he has proven that he can take over when needed, averaging 14.4 points on 45.2, 35.0, 76.1 splits this season. He did most of that work in a secondary perimeter role, which adds value at the next level where he could be asked to star on a G-League team before playing a role in the NBA the next night early in his career.

He is also a proven winner, willing to commit himself fully on the defensive end for FAU during a Final Four run before doing the same at Florida on the way to a national championship. He averaged 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 stocks throughout the 2024-25 season thanks to his physical play and athletic advantage when undersized.

Will Richard

While Will Richard is unlikely to be selected inside the 59 draft picks across two night, that does not mean he will never make the NBA. Expect strong interest for the undersized wing at the Summer League, where he will get the opportunity to showcase his skillset and play for one of the 90 two-way contracts available across the league.

Given his ability to space the floor when playing with multiple guards, or shift up the lineup when filling in beside multiple big men, there is great versatility in Richard’s game. The 6-foot-5 wing can play in a number of ways and competes on both ends which is necessary for players of his mold looking to outperformance professional projections.

On offense, Richard averaged 13.3 points on 48.7, 35.9, 84.4 shooting splits. That was up from 10.4 when he first made the jump to SEC competition at Florida and 11.4 last season.

There is plenty to like on defense too, where he averaged 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 stocks, putting up a 100.3 defensive rating with 2.4 defensive win shares. The tape also tells the tail of a versatile player willing to take whatever perimeter assignment he is tasked with throughout the game.