It’s going according to plan so far for Florida basketball this offseason.
The return of senior forward Alex Condon, plus the surprise return of guard Denzel Aberdeen from Kentucky, gives the Florida Gators a legitimate shot to repeat at SEC champions and go deeper into the NCAA Tournament after its Round of 32 upset loss last month.
There’s also promising news on the Thomas Haugh front. Florida is putting together a Name, Image and Likeness package commensurate to the guaranteed money that Haugh would make if he’s picked between 10-20 in the NBA Draft (in the range of $6-9 million). If UF gets both the All-American forward Haugh and Condon to stay, the Gators would elevate from SEC to national title contenders.
The only question that remains? Center Rueben Chinyelu, who declared for the NBA Draft without an agent for the second year in a row on April 20. There are rumblings that the 6-foot-10, 265-pound Chinyelu overplayed his hand when it came to his value in negotiations, similar to Aberdeen last season.
After posting a UF-record 19 double-doubles and becoming the first player in program history to win Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Chinyelu is entitled to a raise. How much remains an issue. Chinyelu took steps forward in free throw shooting and defending without fouling but couldn’t overcome foul trouble in a 0-point, 1-rebound effort that doomed UF in its 73-72 NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa.
Chinyelu’s decision to enter the NBA Draft without an agent at least keeps negotiations ongoing until May 27, when he must decide whether to stay in the draft or return to school.
Where Florida basketball should turn if Rueben Chinyelu stays in NBA Draft
If Chinyelu opts to stay in the NBA Draft, wish him well. He helped lead UF to a national title as a sophomore and an SEC title in his breakout junior season.
But Florida needs a backup plan, which could come in the form of a Serbian sharpshooter who toiled in the Big 12 last season.
Like Chinyelu, Iowa State 6-8 swingman Milan Momcilovic has entered the NBA Draft without an agent. Momcilovic (pronounced mom-chill-uh-veech) shot 50.6% from the floor for the Cyclones last season while shooting an eye-popping 47.8% from 3-point range on 3.7 3-point makes per game.
The addition of Momcilovic would transform Florida from a power team to a perimeter firepower team.
Florida would still have some rugged-enough rebounders inside in Haugh and Condon, who combined for 12 double doubles in 2025-26. But Momcilovic would address UF’s biggest weakness in 2025-26 − perimeter shooting. The Gators went from shooting 35.6% from 3-point range during its national title campain in 2024-25 to 31.2% from 3-point range this past season.
Aberdeen, who shot a career-best 36.3% from 3-point range at Kentucky last season, should help improve UF’s beyond-the-arc woes. But Momcilovic would take it into a different stratosphere.
There’s mutual interest between Florida and Momcilovic, though UF would have to fend off Duke, Louisville and Kansas, which could potentially up the asking price. Momcilovic brings size to the perimeter at 6-8 but isn’t a rugged rebounder (3.1 boards per game) or lock down defender. He’s heady enough to absorb team defensive concepts, though, and was part of an Iowa State defense under head coach T.J. Otzelberger that ranked 13th nationally, allowing jus 65.6 points per game.
Chinyelu remains priority number one for Florida to retain, but Momcilovic would give Florida a different look, one that could still take the Gators deeper into March.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball should look to Iowa State sharpshooter if Rueben Chinyelu doesn’t return
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
