Xaivian Lee eager to prove he can adapt to SEC level with Florida basketball

• Xaivian Lee, an All-Ivy League transfer from Princeton, joins Florida basketball with a multi-million dollar NIL shoe deal.
• Lee is eager to prove he can compete at the SEC level after showcasing his skills at Princeton.
• Lee is reunited with former prep school teammate Thomas Haugh, who played a key role in recruiting him to Florida.

Xaivian Lee enters summer workouts with Florida basketball with a multi-million-dollar Name, Image and Likeness shoe deal and the academic pedigree of coming from any Ivy League school.

Still, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Lee is eager to prove himself on the hardwood at the SEC level with the Florida Gators.

Lee earned All-Ivy League honors last season at Princeton, a school known more for producing Rhodes Scholars and Nobel Prize Winners than hoop stars. Its most famous basketball alumnus, small forward Bill Bradley, helped the New York Knicks win NBA titles in 1970 and 1973 before becoming a U.S. Senator representing New Jersey.

“I see a lot of people talking about ‘How’s he going to do against better competition?'” Lee said. “But for me, I look at it like I am getting to play with a lot more talented, athletic guys. At Princeton, we had a great program. But I am excited to challenge myself here and also to play with a lot of guys who have the same aspirations I do.”

A Toronto native, Lee honed his skills in his native Canada, which has exported its share of college basketball and NBA talent over the last two decades. Four Canadians are playing the NBA Finals, including former UF and Gonzaga point guard Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers) and NBA MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder).

“Canada basketball is very good, very talented,” Lee said. “Certainly, there are a lot of guards coming out of there. I feel like we all support each other. I learn a lot from them. It’s cool to see Canadians succeeding at the highest level.”

Last month, Lee signed a reported seven-figure NIL deal to become the face of Serious Player Only, a Chinese-based shoe company. Lee will wear Jordan Brand apparel and shoes per UF’s licensing agreement during UF games and related events but can wear Serious Player apparel on his own time. For Lee, who is of Korean and Canadian descent, the deal could pay more dividends down the road if he establishes himself as an NBA or overseas pro basketball player.

“I’m super for grateful for that,” Lee said. “You know the deal went through smoothly and stuff. We were talking at the end of the year, similar to the Florida process but not all at once, obviously. At Florida, I’ll wear Jordan, but anywhere but Florida, I’ll be wearing Serious Players Only.”

What Xaivian Lee can bring to Florida basketball

Lee amassed 1,154 points, 406 rebounds, 302 assists, 124 3-point field goals and 81 steals over three seasons at Princeton, appearing in 91 games with 59 starts. This past season, he recorded two triple-doubles for the Tigers, averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

“I’m just trying to win, do whatever I can on the floor to help my team win,” Lee said. “Last year that required doing a little bit of everything. I don’t know if I’ll get too many rebounds this year with all the towers we have around here. I’ll try and stick my nose in there a little bit but just doing what the team needs.” 

Florida basketball Todd Golden is confident Lee’s skillset will help adapt to a higher level of competition quickly.

“He’s just a phenomenally skilled offensive player,” Golden said. “His dribbling, his passing, his shooting, his IQ. I think all those things will translate incredibly well to our league.”

Summer workouts will give Lee a chance to establish chemistry with his new Florida teammates and new sophomore point guard Boogie Fland, as Golden intends to experiment playing both point guards in the same backcourt this upcoming season.

“I hope it develops well,” Lee said. “I think it’s going to go well. I wouldn’t see it going any other way. We’ll have to get used to play with each other but me and him getting in to shoot all the time and work out. I’m looking forward to it.” 

Florida player deserves assist in Xaivian Lee’s recuitment

Lee is looking forward to joining forces again with Florida junior forward Thomas Haugh, who emerged as one of the top sixth men in the country last season.

Haugh and Lee played together for a year at Perkoimen prep school in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.

“If you look at that team now, we had some really good players out there,” Lee said. “We were so well coached. Shout out Coach B (Thomas Baudinet). I feel like that was the first time I really walked onto a basketball court and had all my distractions put away. I really developed my love for basketball right there.”

Lee said Haugh checked in on him from time to time over the last two years. The calls intensified this spring, as Haugh made his best pitch to convince Lee to sign with the Gators.

“We wouldn’t believe it if you told us three or four years ago that we’d both be here playing for Florida,” Lee said. “It’s pretty surreal, but at the same time, I’m just exited to get to work.” 

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com.

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