Thomas Haugh, potential NBA lottery pick, returns to Florida

Potential NBA lottery pick Thomas Haugh will return to Florida for his senior season, he told ESPN on Tuesday.

Haugh becomes the third starter from the Gators' 2025-26 Southeastern Conference championship team to announce his return for the upcoming season, joining fellow forward Alex Condon and guard Boogie Fland. Starting center Rueben Chinyelu announced Monday that he is maintaining his eligibility throughout the NBA draft process.

"Most guys in my position in the draft, it would be a no-brainer to go to the NBA," the 6-foot-9, 215-pound Haugh told ESPN. "It's not just the NIL. It's a chance to play with my boys. To play for coach (Todd) Golden. To go to the school I love to play for. It was definitely a tougher decision than last year, but it was best for my career and future."

Haugh received second-team All-American honors and first-team All-SEC honors this past season, averaging 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He collected 19 points and six rebounds in top-seeded Florida's 73-72 setback to ninth-seeded Iowa in the second round of the South Region in the NCAA Tournament on March 22.

"I think that lit a fire underneath me," Haugh said of the NCAA Tournament loss. "I (didn't) want my last memory of Florida basketball to be that."

Haugh, who won a national championship with the Gators in 2024-25, has averaged 10.1 points an 5.3 rebounds in 110 career games (41 starts) at Florida.

--Field Level Media