Florida basketball scored big-time by signing former Arkansas Razorbacks guard Boogie Fland to the team via the NCAA transfer portal after he withdrew his name from the NBA draft.
Unsurprisingly, the Gators got a huge boost in the preseason rankings as a result, as demonstrated by CBS Sports writer Gary Parrish’s latest college basketball top 25-and-1 rankings. In it, he lifted the Orange and Blue nine spots to No. 6 in the nation, now nestled between the fifth-ranked UConn Huskies and seventh-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders — both are programs that Todd Golden and Co. beat on their way to the NCAA Tournament title.
“This is the era of college basketball dominated by transfer waivers and big NIL deals that, when combined, allows programs with strong financial support to replace departing student-athletes with established college standouts as opposed to high school prospects and/or role players,” Parrish begins.
“On Tuesday, Florida made another such move by securing a commitment from Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland, a 6-foot-2 guard who was a McDonald’s All-American in 2024 before averaging 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in one season with the Razorbacks.
“Fland is the second notable transfer to pick Florida. The other is Princeton’s Xaivian Lee, a 6-4 guard who averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists this past season. Their additions mean the Gators could use a starting lineup that looks like this:”
“That’s three experienced forwards, each of whom played a meaningful role in Florida’s run through the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and two experienced guards who have already averaged more than 13 points and five assists at the Division I level,” Parrish continues. “It’s a projected starting lineup talented enough to get the Gators up to No. 6 in Version 12 of the 2025-26 CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 preseason college basketball rankings, where Houston remains No. 1.”
CBS Sports’ Top 25 And 1 rankings
- Houston
- St. John’s
- BYU
- Purdue
- UConn
- Florida
- Texas Tech
- Michigan
- Duke
- UCLA
- Arizona
- Kentucky
- Iowa State
- Louisville
- Michigan State
- Oregon
- Kansas
- Auburn
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- Gonzaga
- Texas
- Illinois
- Alabama
- Wisconsin
- Ohio State
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