Desmond Claude is entering the final stages of his recruitment after leaving USC and entering the college basketball transfer portal on April 22. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound senior averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Trojans this past season. He’s the No. 34 overall prospect to enter the portal this offseason and offseason the top available point guard. Florida, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Kansas and BYU have expressed interest in Claude this offseason, and a clear favorite has emerged, according to national basketball analyst Travis Branham.
“Claude is taking a visit to Florida this week, beginning on Thursday,” Branham said, via the “College Basketball Show” on Tuesday. “Florida is frankly the team to beat. When Denzel Aberdeen hit the portal, things really opened up for Florida. Todd Golden is in big need of an impact guard, and Desmond Calude absolutely fits that bill. There sounds to be some heavy mutual interest in this pairing. Heading into the weekend, Florida is absolutely a team to watch. There have also been discussions of teams like Ole Miss, North Carolina, Kansas, BYU and some others who have expressed some interest in him. However, they’re all taking a back seat to the Gators.”
Claude hasn’t officially ruled out a return to USC for his senior season, but Branham reported a reunion between the two sides is unlikely. Claude transferred to USC from Xavier last offseason and led the program in points and assists last season.
“I would say the chances of him ending back up with USC is basically 0% at this point,” Branham said. “While it was reported he was considering a return, I just don’t believe that will be the case here at all.”
Florida is coming off its first national championship in 18 seasons, and head coach Todd Golden is tasked with rebuilding a Gators roster that lost its top three scorers, Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard, to graduation and reserve guard Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky in the transfer portal.
The Gators have already added backcourt help via the portal with the addition of former Princeton ball-handler Xaivian Lee, the No. 32 overall prospect and No. 7 point guard to enter the portal this offseason. Florida also has a transfer commitment from ex-Ohio guard AJ Brown, who averaged 13.2 points and 3.2 rebounds and shot 38.8% from three-point range with the Bobcats last season.
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Lee averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game at Princeton last season. He shot 43.9% from the floor, including a 36.6% clip from long-range. Lee recorded two triple-doubles during the 2024-25 season, with an 18-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist performance against St. Joseph’s on Dec. 3 and a 23-point, 10-rebound, 12-assist showing during conference play against Penn.
