Among the pickups Todd Golden grabbed to bolster the roster, Slovenian guard Urban Klavzar is poised to make an early impact for Florida Basketball in the 2024-25 basketball season.
Ranked No. 8 among ESPN's top international newcomers, Klavzar arrives in Gainesville with experience from Spain's top-tier domestic league, having competed for Real Madrid, UCAM Murcia CB, and CD Estela Cantabria. His resume also includes playing in the U20 European Championship, where he represented Slovenia.
Florida Basketball: International Flair
In his article, ESPN's Jeff Borzello noted:
"The 20-year-old has polished scoring instincts and dynamic shot-making prowess, making a huge volume of 3-pointers throughout his career, but is also capable of creating shots for himself and others. He made his Euroleague debut for Real Madrid at age 17, dropping 10 points in 23 minutes against seasoned pros."
In Klavzar's recent performance with CD Estela Cantabria, he had 33 appearances and averages of 8.9 points, 1.5 assists, and shooting efficiency of 42.7% from three-point range and 47.7% from the field.
The hope is to bolster Florida's offense, especially with the team searching for a reliable backcourt partner for standout scorer Walter Clayton Jr.
As a proven shot creator with elite shooting percentages—42% on off-the-dribble threes and 44% on catch-and-shoots—Klavzar is positioned to contribute immediately. His ability to generate offense independently fits in well to Golden's offense.
Florida will open their season on November 4 against USF in Jacksonville. The Gators are coming off a 24-12 campaign that saw them make the finals of the SEC Tournament before making the NCAA Tournament, where they were bounced in the first round by Colorado.