The NCAA’s decision to allow one-time transfers without sitting out a season has resulted in a record number of players entering the transfer portal this offseason. Though this certainly proved detrimental to a number of teams, especially mid-major ones, it was rather fortuitous for the Gators.
Florida lost six players this offseason between the draft and the portal. Hitting the portal itself was really the only option to fill the roster after those departures, and the result was the team landing four players that rank in the top 100 of ESPN’s transfer rankings.
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Most of the incoming (and outgoing) UF players remain in the same spot as they did in the previous rankings. For the incoming guys, Penn State guard Myreon Jones ranks No. 45, followed by Boston College forward CJ Felder at No. 65 and Charleston Southern guard Phlandrous Fleming at No. 68, and Missouri-Kansas City guard Brandon McKissic dropped one spot to No. 80.
As far as the former Gators go, guard Noah Locke, who transferred to Lousiville, comes in at No. 47 again, and Omar Payne, who joined an Illinois team that was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this year, ranks No. 81, falling one spot from the last update.
UF’s roster is going to look a lot different next year, and the departures of Payne and Locke are sure to hurt. But with four of the nation’s top transfers coming in, it should be another talented team, on paper.
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