The 2023 NBA draft is now in the rearview mirror after the 77th edition of the annual event took place on June 22. Unfortunately for Florida basketball, it was the second consecutive year that the program failed to have a former player drafted straight out of the university.
The last time a Gator was picked in the draft was in 2021 when Tre Mann was selected in the first round at pick No. 18 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then in 2022, Andrew Nembhard — who had transferred to Gonzaga prior to going pro — was taken in the second round at No. 31 overall, while another former transfer, Keyontae Johnson, also went in the second round of the 2023 draft at No. 50 overall.
With all of that now officially in the books, USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt quickly turned around with his mock draft for the 2024 selection process. This time, a future former Gator made the cut with [autotag]Riley Kugel[/autotag] getting taken at No. 24 overall in the first round. The team who will own that pick has still yet to be determined.
Kugel, a rising sophomore out of Dr. Phillips in Orlando, Florida, averaged 9.9 points per game during the regular season in 2023 while stepping up in Southeastern Conference Tournament play with a 12.6 scoring average — the highest by a Gators freshman since Bradley Beal in 2011-12. Earned also SEC All-Freshman honors thanks to his superlative play at times, including back-to-back 20-point games making him the first since Kenny Boynton (2009-10) to achieve that feat.
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