Florida's surprise portal entrant could also hint at others returning

If Micah Handlogten is granted another year of eligibility, he is likely to finish his career outside of Gainesville. The 7-foot-1 center has entered the transfer portal while his appeal for another year of eligibility remains in limbo.

Handlogten suffered a gruesome injury in the 2024 SEC tournament championship game when he suffered a compound fracture in his left leg while going up to grab a rebound. He was expected to miss the entire 2025 season, but decided to return late in the season to help the Gators win a national championship. 

Because Handlogten played 16 games in the 2024-25 season, he lost his redshirt, which is the reason why he's making the appeal for the extra year. The senior from Lake Norman, North Carolina joined the Gators in 2023 after a season with Marshall. His best season came in 2023-24 when he averaged 5.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds until the injury.

Micah Handlogten will enter the transfer portal

This move could have a serious domino effect for the Gators. Handlogten doesn't currently have eligibility, but he and Todd Golden had been working on the appeal with the expectation he would have an increased role on the Gators front court next season. But if he's entering the transfer portal, that could mean that Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu will be back next season. Condon had recently said that he ws 50/50 on staying or declaring for the NBA Draft. Chinyelu was recently named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

While Handlogten's next steps are unknown, his time in Florida will be fondly remembered. He was a fan favorite from the start and his return in 2025 made him the ultimate teammate. There's a reason why Walter Clayton jumped into Handlogten's arms after the Gators won a national title. We wish him luck.