Florida basketball is experiencing something of a renaissance this season as Todd Golden steers his team toward the top of the standings. His first two years as the Gators skipper were plagued with growing pains as the program molted out of its previous form into what has become a force to be reckoned with.
Possibly the biggest observable reason for the Orange and Blue’s rebirth from the ashes of the Mike White era is Golden’s ability to acquire the right talent for his needs from the NCAA transfer portal. The sports de facto free agency system has helped pack the roster the past few years, with this year’s additions playing a large role in Florida’s success.
ESPN basketball recruiting insider Jeff Borzello recently presented his men’s college basketball transfer grades for the 2024-25 campaign, which included a pair of Gators: guard Alijah Martin and center Rueben Chinyelu in the second and third tiers, respectively. Here is what he had to offer.
Rest of the best: Alijah Martin
“Martin has missed a couple of games due to injury in recent weeks, but for the most part, he’s looked a lot like the player who helped lead Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023,” Borzello begins. “He’s averaging a career-high 15.1 points and 2.7 assists, while also grabbing 4.7 rebounds and shooting nearly 35% from 3.”
Under-the-radar addition: Rueben Chinyelu
“His stats don’t jump off the page — although he did score 10 points in back-to-back games entering this week — but Chinyelu has started all 25 games at center for a team in the hunt for a 1-seed,” he notes. “That’s perfect for this category. He’s averaging 5.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, shooting nearly 59% from the field after transferring from Washington State.”
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball Alijah Martin, Rueben Chinyelu ESPN transfer grades
