GAINESVILLE — Florida star Thomas Haugh will return to the Gators, deciding the chance to avenge a bitter end to last season outweighed the likelihood of a first-round selection in the NBA Draft.
Haugh, who announced his decision Tuesday, will reunite with Alex Condon to form one of the nation’s top frontcourts and lead a top national title contender after the Gators’ 73-72 loss to Iowa in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
A third-team All-America and the team’s leading scorer, Haugh was inconsolable and in tears following Florida’s stunning defeat March 22 in Tampa. He finished with 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals, but shot just 3-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-8 from 3-point range, and had three turnovers. He went 26 minutes before scoring his first field goal.
The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Haugh averaged a team-leading 17.1 points, recorded 13 20-point games and shot 46% from the field while averaging 6.1 rebounds, earning first-team All-SEC honors. But he shot 32.6% from beyond the arc, including just 3-of-18 (16.7%) during four postseason games.
After shifting to small forward from power forward, Haugh emerged as a versatile defender for a team ranked sixth nationally in defensive efficiency by Ken Pomeroy. Improving his perimeter shooting consistency and defensive impact could further elevate his NBA stock.
He was projected as a possible lottery pick — one of the top 14 players selected — but opted for a fourth season at Florida at a time when lucrative NIL opportunities are available to star athletes.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com