Florida basketball: Projecting the Gators starting lineup

Florida basketball’s roster has just about been entirely remade this offseason in the transfer portal. Todd Golden has done an exceptional job getting transfer targets on campus and securing their commitments.

With plenty of high-level guys coming into the program, as well as a few stars returning, Golden will have himself a pretty good roster when the season rolls around.

But with so many high-caliber players, it can be hard to make decisions about the rotation and who should be in the starting lineup.

So, my underqualified self will do my best today to project what the starting five will look like for the Gators.

Starting with the backcourt, we’ll see Walter Clayton Jr., an Iona transfer, running the point for the Gators. Clayton averaged 16.8 points per game on 45.5% shooting from the field, as well as a 43.1% clip from deep and a 95.3% rate from the free throw line.

Walter is an elite scorer and runs an offense very well, something that the Gators need badly.

Now here’s where we have our first question mark. We know that Riley Kugel will be a starter and perhaps the guy with the most minutes next season. But will we also see Will Richard in the first five?

With the commitment of Zyon Pullin, I think Richard will get bumped to the bench. As a sixth man, he’ll have less pressure on him to be a top scorer on the team, making him much more efficient, and be used less to preserve his legs for clutch shots in March.

Down low, Golden has another decision to make. It’s almost a certainty that Micah Handlogten, the big seven-footer from Marshall will be the Gators’ starter at center.

But who starts at the four spot will depend on the kind of play style Golden wants. It’s between Yale transfer EJ Jarvis and Seton Hall transfer Tyrese Samuel.

EJ Jarvis is the better fit if the Gators decide to spread the floor out with shooters and play a fast game. Jarvis is a 40.6% three-point shooter and has great length on the perimeter. He’s also a solid option to drive the ball to the hoop to help keep the offense moving.

But if Todd decides to go with size and try to play bully ball, we’ll see Tyrese Samuel get the start. Samuel is 6’10”-235, compared to Jarvis at 6’8”-220, making him more dominant down low.

Samuel is a better rebounder and paint presence, so he would be very effective if the Gators wanted to pound the ball in the paint.

My guess, given the rest of the roster, is that we see Jarvis start in a spread-out offense. Having Samuel off the bench to eat up minutes in the paint, as well as support in case of foul trouble, will be a major help for Florida basketball.

So with the roster as it’s currently constructed, here’s Hail Florida Hail’s starting five for the Gators.

PG: Walter Clayton Jr.

SG: Zyon Pullin

SF: Riley Kugel

PF: EJ Jarvis

C: Micah Handlogten

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