Florida Gators men's basketball facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Florida Gators |
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University | University of Florida | |||
First season | 1914 | |||
All-time record | 1,529–1,178 (.565) | |||
Athletic director | Scott Stricklin | |||
Head coach | Todd Golden (3rd season) | |||
Conference | Southeastern Conference | |||
Location | Gainesville, Florida | |||
Arena | Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center (Capacity: 10,136) |
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Nickname | Gators | |||
Student section | Rowdy Reptiles | |||
Colors | Blue and Orange |
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Uniforms | ||||
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NCAA Tournament Champions | ||||
2006, 2007, 2025 | ||||
NCAA Tournament Runner-up | ||||
2000 | ||||
NCAA Tournament Final Four | ||||
1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2025 | ||||
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight | ||||
1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2025 | ||||
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen | ||||
1987*, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2025 | ||||
NCAA Tournament Second round | ||||
1987*, 1988*, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2025 | ||||
NCAA Tournament Appearances | ||||
1987*, 1988*, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025 * - vacated by NCAA |
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Conference Tournament Champions | ||||
2005, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2025 | ||||
Conference Regular Season Champions | ||||
1989, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014 | ||||
Conference Division Season Champions | ||||
1994, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011 |
The Florida Gators men's basketball team plays for the University of Florida. They are part of NCAA Division I and compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their home games are played on Billy Donovan Court at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Florida.
The team started playing in 1915. For many years, basketball wasn't a top sport at the university. Things changed when Norm Sloan became the first full-time coach in 1960. Later, Lon Kruger led the team to its first Sweet Sixteen in 1987. He also took them to the Final Four in 1994.
The program truly took off when Billy Donovan became head coach in 1996. Under him, the Gators won many SEC championships. They also made it to four Final Fours. Most famously, they won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Florida is the only school to win national titles in both basketball and football in the same year (2007).
Todd Golden became the head coach in 2022. After a tough first year, he led the Gators back to the NCAA Tournament in 2024. In 2025, Coach Golden guided the Gators to an amazing 36–4 record. They won the SEC Tournament and their third national championship!
Contents
- Playing the Season: Schedule Overview
- Gator Basketball History
- Head Coaches
- Championships and Trophies
- Postseason Results
- Final Four Appearances
- Home Courts
- All-Americans
- SEC Player of the Year
- Retired Numbers
- 2006–07 NCAA Championship Starting Five
- Gators in the NBA
- Gators Playing Internationally
- See also
Playing the Season: Schedule Overview
The college basketball season starts in early November. Non-conference games usually run until the end of the year. The Gators often play in special tournaments against other top teams. They also play a few games at home or away. A big game every year is against their in-state rival, Florida State.
The SEC conference games begin around January. There are 18 conference games in total. The Gators play some teams twice (home and away) and others once. After these games, they play in the SEC conference tournament. Florida has big rivalries with Kentucky and Tennessee. These rivalries grew as the Gators became a top team in the 1990s.
Gator Basketball History
How it All Started: Early Years
The University of Florida (UF) started its modern form in 1905. The first official basketball team played in the 1915–16 school year. Their coach was C. J. McCoy, who also coached football. The team had a great start with a 5–1 record.
After a break for World War I, the team returned in 1919. They moved into a new home, the University Gymnasium, in 1920.

New Gyms and the SEC
The first University Gymnasium was too small for fans. So, a larger wooden building called the "New Gym" was built in 1928. It was meant to be temporary. But due to the Great Depression, a bigger, permanent gym was delayed. The team finally moved to the Florida Gymnasium (also known as Alligator Alley) in 1949.
In 1932, the University of Florida joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For many years, the Gators basketball team struggled. They often finished in the bottom half of the SEC standings. The university often had football or baseball coaches also coach basketball. This made it hard to build a strong, consistent basketball program.
Building Up: The 1960s and 1970s
In 1960, Norm Sloan became Florida's first full-time basketball coach. He started to turn the program around. His teams had winning records in the SEC. They even beat Kentucky for the first time in SEC play. Sloan helped build a foundation for the Gators.
Tommy Bartlett took over in 1966. His first team in 1966–67 was very successful. They finished with a 21–4 record and were ranked in the top 10 nationally. However, only the league champion could play in the postseason back then. So, even though they were great, they didn't get to play in a tournament.
Later, led by Neal Walk, the team made its first postseason appearance in 1969. This was in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Neal Walk is the only Gator basketball player to have his jersey number retired. After Walk left, the team struggled again.
Lon Kruger's Impact
Lon Kruger became head coach in 1990. He slowly improved the team. In 1993–94, the Gators had their best season ever at that time. With players like Andrew DeClercq and Dametri Hill, they reached their first Final Four. They had a thrilling overtime win against UConn. They lost to Duke in the national semifinal. Kruger left Florida in 1996.
The Billy Donovan Era: A Golden Age
Florida hired 30-year-old Billy Donovan in 1996. He quickly brought in talented players like Jason Williams, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and Matt Bonner. Under Donovan, the Gators made the NCAA Tournament every year from 1999 to 2007. This was a school record!
Reaching the Final Four
Donovan's first two seasons were tough. But in his third year, 1999, the Gators finished 22–9. They reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.
In his fourth season, 2000, the Gators had an amazing run. They finished 29–8 and shared the SEC championship. They made it all the way to the NCAA national championship game. They beat top teams like Duke and North Carolina. They lost to Michigan State in the final.
For the next five years, the Gators went to the NCAA Tournament every year. But they often lost in the first or second round. In 2005, they won their first SEC Tournament championship. This earned them an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Back-to-Back National Champions: 2006 and 2007

The 2005–06 team started the season unranked. They surprised everyone with a 17–0 winning streak. This was the best start in school history. Even though they lost some games late in the season, they won their second straight SEC Tournament championship.
The Gators entered the 2006 NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed. They beat tough teams like Georgetown and Villanova. This sent them to their second Final Four under Donovan. On April 3, 2006, the Gators defeated the UCLA Bruins to win the school's first men's basketball NCAA Championship!
The 2006–07 team brought back all five starters from their championship team. They started the season ranked No. 1. They won their third straight SEC Tournament championship.
In the 2007 NCAA Tournament, Florida was the No. 1 overall seed. They reached the Final Four again. They beat UCLA in the semifinal. Then, they defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in the final. This made them the first team since 1992 to win back-to-back national championships! Florida is also the only school to win both the football and basketball national championships in the same season (2007).
Rebuilding and More Elite Eight Runs
After the 2007 championship, Donovan briefly accepted a job with the NBA's Orlando Magic. But he quickly returned to coach the Gators. The team missed the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2009. They returned in 2010 but lost in the first round.
From 2011 to 2013, the Gators made it to the Elite Eight three years in a row. They won the SEC Championship in 2011 and 2013. However, they lost in the Elite Eight each time, often in close games. Florida is the only team to reach the Elite Eight in these three seasons.
Return to the Final Four in 2014
The 2013–14 Gators had an incredible season. They finished the SEC regular season with a perfect 18–0 record! This was a first for any SEC team. They then won their fourth SEC Tournament championship.
The Gators were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. They won their first four games easily. They finally broke through in the Elite Eight, beating Dayton. This sent them to the Final Four. There, they faced UConn, who had beaten them earlier in the season. The Gators struggled to score and lost the game.
This team had a program-best 36–3 record. Many players received awards. Scottie Wilbekin was named SEC Player of the Year. Casey Prather was also named to the All-SEC First Team.
End of the Donovan Era
The 2014–15 season was tough. The Gators finished with a losing record for the first time in 17 years. They did not play in a postseason tournament. After this season, Billy Donovan left to coach the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. He left as the winningest coach in Gators history. He led them to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and many SEC titles.
Mike White's Time as Coach
In 2015, Mike White became the new head coach. In his first season, he led Florida to the NIT Tournament. His second team in 2017 was his best. They finished 2nd in the SEC. They reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. They had a thrilling win over Wisconsin with a last-second shot. But they lost to SEC rival South Carolina, just one game short of the Final Four.
Florida made it to four straight NCAA tournaments under White. However, after 2017, their wins decreased. They were not serious contenders for SEC championships. In 2022, White left to coach at Georgia.
Todd Golden Era: Returning to Glory
On March 18, 2022, Todd Golden became Florida's new head basketball coach.
Building a Strong Team
Golden's first season in 2022–23 ended with a 16–17 record. They played in the NIT but lost in the first round.
For the 2023–24 season, Golden brought in new players through transfers. These included Zyon Pullin, Walter Clayton Jr., and Tyrese Samuel. This helped the team greatly.
The 2023–24 season was a big step forward. The Gators had a 21–10 regular season record. They reached the SEC Tournament championship game before losing to Auburn. They earned a spot in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. However, they lost a very close game to Colorado in the first round.
Gator Boys Stay Hot: 2025 National Championship
The Gators kept their focus on becoming a top team again. Walter Clayton Jr. returned, and new transfers like Rueben Chinyelu, Will Richard, and Alijah Martin joined.
Florida started the 2024–25 season ranked No. 21. They had a fantastic 13–0 start. They were ranked No. 6 before losing their first SEC game to Kentucky.
The 2024–25 SEC season was amazing for the Gators. They beat No. 1 Tennessee by 30 points. They also defeated No. 1 Auburn. This made them only the fifth team in NCAA history to beat two No. 1 teams in one season!
Florida finished the regular season 27–4. They then won their first SEC Tournament since 2014, beating Tennessee in the final.
As the No. 1 seed in the West Regional, Florida entered the NCAA Tournament. They beat Norfolk State easily. Then, they faced two-time defending champions UConn. Walter Clayton Jr. scored 23 points to lead the Gators to a thrilling 77–75 win.
They continued their run with a win over Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen. In the Elite Eight, they faced Texas Tech. Down by 9 points with little time left, the Gators made an incredible comeback. Three-pointers from Clayton and Haugh helped them win 84–79. This secured Florida's first Final Four appearance since 2014!
In the Final Four, the Gators defeated Auburn. Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 points. On April 7, 2025, Coach Golden led Florida to its first National Championship since 2007. They beat Houston 65–63. Walter Clayton was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Head Coaches
Championships and Trophies
NCAA National Championships
The Florida Gators have won three NCAA national championships. This ties them for 9th all-time among Division I schools. They won two championships in a row in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan. This was the first time any team had won back-to-back titles since Duke in 1991–92. Also, Florida is the only school to win national championships in both football and basketball in the same year (2007).
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SEC Tournament Championships
The Gators have won five SEC Tournament championships. Four of these were under Billy Donovan, including three in a row from 2005 to 2007.
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SEC Regular Season Championships
The team with the best record in the regular season is the "official" SEC champion. The Gators have won seven regular season SEC championships. Norm Sloan won the first one in 1988–89. Billy Donovan won the other six. This includes the 2006–07 season when they won the SEC Tournament and the NCAA national championship. The 2013–14 team was the first in SEC history to have a perfect 18–0 conference record.
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Postseason Results
NCAA Tournament Results
Florida has played in the NCAA Tournament 24 times. Their official record is 46–18. They won national championships in 2006, 2007, and 2025. (Note: Their 1987 and 1988 appearances were later removed by the NCAA.)
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Results |
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1987* | No. 6 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen |
No. 11 NC State No. 3 Purdue No. 2 Syracuse |
W 82–70 W 85–66 L 81–87 |
1988* | No. 6 | Round of 64 Round of 32 |
No. 11 St. John's No. 3 Michigan |
W 62–59 L 85–108 |
1989 | No. 7 | Round of 64 | No. 10 Colorado State | L 46–68 |
1994 | No. 3 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four |
No. 14 James Madison No. 11 Penn No. 2 Connecticut No. 9 Boston College No. 2 Duke |
W 64–62 W 70–58 W 69–60 OT W 74–66 L 65–70 |
1995 | No. 10 | Round of 64 | No. 7 Iowa State | L 61–64 |
1999 | No. 6 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen |
No. 11 Penn No. 14 Weber State No. 10 Gonzaga |
W 75–61 W 82–74 OT L 72–73 |
2000 | No. 5 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
No. 12 Butler No. 4 Illinois No. 1 Duke No. 3 Oklahoma State No. 8 North Carolina No. 1 Michigan State |
W 69–68 OT W 93–76 W 87–78 W 77–65 W 71–59 L 76–89 |
2001 | No. 3 | Round of 64 Round of 32 |
No. 14 WKU No. 11 Temple |
W 69–56 L 54–75 |
2002 | No. 5 | Round of 64 | No. 12 Creighton | L 82–83 |
2003 | No. 2 | Round of 64 Round of 32 |
No. 15 Sam Houston State No. 7 Michigan State |
W 85–55 L 46–68 |
2004 | No. 5 | Round of 64 | No. 12 Manhattan | L 60–75 |
2005 | No. 4 | Round of 64 Round of 32 |
No. 13 Ohio No. 5 Villanova |
W 67–62 L 65–76 |
2006 | No. 3 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
No. 14 South Alabama No. 11 Milwaukee No. 7 Georgetown No. 1 Villanova No. 11 George Mason No. 2 UCLA |
W 76–50 W 82–60 W 57–53 W 75–62 W 73–58 W 73–57 |
2007 | No. 1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
No. 16 Jackson State No. 9 Purdue No. 5 Butler No. 3 Oregon No. 2 UCLA No. 1 Ohio State |
W 112–69 W 74–67 W 65–57 W 85–77 W 76–66 W 84–75 |
2010 | No. 10 | Round of 64 | No. 7 BYU | L 92–99 2OT |
2011 | No. 2 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
No. 15 UC Santa Barbara No. 7 UCLA No. 3 BYU No. 8 Butler |
W 79–51 W 73–65 W 83–74 OT L 71–74 OT |
2012 | No. 7 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
No. 10 Virginia No. 15 Norfolk State No. 3 Marquette No. 4 Louisville |
W 71–45 W 84–50 W 68–58 L 68–72 |
2013 | No. 3 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
No. 14 Northwestern State No. 11 Minnesota No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast No. 4 Michigan |
W 79–47 W 78–64 W 62–50 L 59–79 |
2014 | No. 1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four |
No. 16 Albany No. 9 Pittsburgh No. 4 UCLA No. 11 Dayton No. 7 Connecticut |
W 67–55 W 61–45 W 79–68 W 62–52 L 53–63 |
2017 | No. 4 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
No. 13 East Tennessee State No. 5 Virginia No. 8 Wisconsin No. 7 South Carolina |
W 80–65 W 65–39 W 84–83 OT L 70–77 |
2018 | No. 6 | Round of 64 Round of 32 |
No. 11 St. Bonaventure No. 3 Texas Tech |
W 77–62 L 66–69 |
2019 | No. 10 | Round of 64 Round of 32 |
No. 7 Nevada No. 2 Michigan |
W 70–61 L 49–64 |
2021 | No. 7 | Round of 64 Round of 32 |
No. 10 Virginia Tech No. 15 Oral Roberts |
W 75–70OT L 78–81 |
2024 | No. 7 | Round of 64 | No. 10 Colorado | L 100–102 |
2025 | No. 1 | Round of 64 Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game |
No. 16 Norfolk State No. 8 UConn No. 4 Maryland No. 3 Texas Tech No. 1 Auburn No. 1 Houston |
W 95–69 W 77–75 W 87–71 W 84–79 W 79–73 W 65–63 |
* Vacated by the NCAA
NCAA Tournament Seeding History
The NCAA started seeding the tournament in 1979.
Year → | '87 | '88 | '89 | '94 | '95 | '99 | '00 | '01 | '02 | '03 | '04 | '05 | '06 | '07 | '10 | '11 | '12 | '13 | '14 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '21 | '24 | '25 |
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Seed → | 6 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
NIT Results
The Gators have played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 12 times. Their record is 14–14.
Year | Round | Opponent | Results |
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1969 | First Round | Temple | L 66–82 |
1984 | First Round | South Alabama | L 87–88 |
1985 | First Round | Southwestern Louisiana | L 64–65 |
1986 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game |
Southern Miss TCU SW Missouri State Wyoming Louisiana Tech |
W 81–71 W 77–75 W 54–53 L 58–67 L 62–67 |
1992 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game |
Richmond Pittsburgh Purdue Virginia Utah |
W 66–52 W 77–74 W 74–67 L 56–62 L 78–81 |
1993 | First Round | Minnesota | L 66–74 |
1998 | First Round | Georgetown | L 69–71 |
2008 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals |
San Diego State Creighton Arizona State Massachusetts |
W 73–49 W 82–54 W 70–57 L 66–78 |
2009 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals |
Jacksonville Miami (FL) Penn State |
W 84–62 W 74–60 L 62–71 |
2016 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals |
North Florida Ohio State George Washington |
W 97–68 W 74–66 L 77–82 |
2022 | First Round Second Round |
Iona Xavier |
W 79–74 L 56–72 |
2023 | First Round | UCF | L 49–67 |
Final Four Appearances
The Florida Gators have reached the Final Four six times.
Lon Kruger led the Gators to their first Final Four in 1994. They won their regional games and then lost to Duke in the national semifinals.
Billy Donovan took them back to the Final Four six years later in 2000. They had a dramatic overtime win in the first round. Then, they beat top teams like Duke to reach the Final Four. They defeated North Carolina in the semifinals but lost to Michigan State in the championship game.
Donovan's Gators returned to the Final Four in 2006. They won their regional and then beat George Mason in the semifinals. On April 3, 2006, they defeated UCLA in the championship game to win their first national title!
The very next year, in 2007, Donovan's team made it back-to-back Final Fours and back-to-back national championships. They were the No. 1 seed. They beat UCLA again in the semifinals. Then, they defeated Ohio State in the title game.
For the next decade, Florida often got close to the Final Four but couldn't quite make it. From 2011 to 2014, they reached the Elite Eight four times in a row. In 2014, they finally broke through, beating Dayton to reach the Final Four. They lost to UConn, who went on to win the national championship. In 2017, under Mike White, they reached the Elite Eight again but lost to South Carolina.
After Mike White left, Todd Golden took over. In his third season, Golden's Gators made it to the program's sixth Final Four. They had an amazing run, including a thrilling win over UConn. They also made a historic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. Playing in San Francisco, where Golden first coached, they won 84–79. In the Final Four, they defeated Auburn. Then, they won the National Championship against Houston!
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Home Courts
Florida Gator men's basketball home courts | ||
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University Gymnasium | 1920–1927 | |
Building R / New Gym | 1928–1949 | |
Florida Gym / Alligator Alley | 1950–1980 | |
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (Exactech Arena since 2017) |
1980–present |
All-Americans
These Florida Gators basketball players have been named All-Americans:
- Neal Walk, center (1968, 1969)
- Udonis Haslem, center (2001)
- Al Horford, forward-center (2007)
- Joakim Noah, forward-center (2007)
- Scottie Wilbekin, point guard (2014)
- Walter Clayton Jr., point guard (2025)
SEC Player of the Year
Two Florida Gators have been named the SEC Player of the Year:
- Chandler Parsons, small forward (2011)
- Scottie Wilbekin, point guard (2014)
Retired Numbers
Florida has retired one jersey number to honor a special player.
Florida Gators retired numbers | ||||
No. | Player | Position | Career | |
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41 | Neal Walk | C | 1967–1969 |
2006–07 NCAA Championship Starting Five
The team that won back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007 had a special starting five:
- Corey Brewer, small forward. He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 Final Four.
- Taurean Green, point guard.
- Al Horford, center. He became a five-time NBA All-Star.
- Lee Humphrey, shooting guard. He made the most three-point shots in NCAA Tournament history for Florida.
- Joakim Noah, power forward. He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 Final Four. He also became an NBA All-Star.
This group of players, nicknamed "the 04s" because they started at Florida in 2004, were very close. All five starters and their main substitute, Chris Richard, went on to play professional basketball.
Gators in the NBA
Several former Gators currently play in the NBA:
- Bradley Beal (Phoenix Suns)
- Dorian Finney-Smith (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Al Horford (Boston Celtics)
- Tre Mann (Charlotte Hornets)
- Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers)
Gators Playing Internationally
Many former Gators play basketball in other countries:
- Kerry Blackshear Jr. (Israel)
- John Egbunu (Israel)
- Egor Koulechov (Israel)
- Casey Prather (Israel)
- Alex Tyus (Israel, also for the Israeli national team)
- Scottie Wilbekin (Turkey/Israel)
- Nick Calathes (France, EuroLeague)
- Chris Chiozza (Turkey)
- Michael Frazier II (Jordan)
- Will Yeguete (France)
- Devin Robinson (Slovenia)
- Kevarrius Hayes (France, EuroLeague)
- Anthony Duruji (France)
- Kyle Lofton (Germany)
See also
- Florida Gators
- Florida Gators Dazzlers
- Florida Gators women's basketball
- Florida–Kentucky men's basketball rivalry
- History of the University of Florida
- List of Florida Gators in the NBA
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
- University Athletic Association
- Florida-Florida State men's basketball rivalry