With just four teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament, ESPN basketball analysts Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf broke down the best 15 players ahead of the Final Four.
Naturally, a quarter of the list is made up of Gators, and the first name on the list is none other than All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., who has moved into the late first-round draft conversation. A combination of ball handling and pure scoring makes Clayton dangerous in multiple ways, and gets checks in as the third best player left in the Big Dance behind Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome.
"Todd Golden made the decision to switch Clayton to point guard this past offseason so his best player could control the flow of this Gators offense. The result? Clayton, an AP first-team All-American, has been the best point guard in America," Medcalf wrote. "He has registered at least 18 points and four assists in nine games this season."
Next up is his FAU transfer Alijah Martin at No. 9 on the list. A defensive savant who can also get to the rim with his quickness, Martin quickly became one of the faces of the program. His Final Four experience has come in handy throughout Florida's postseason run, and he is capable of leading the team in scoring on any given night.
"After his numbers declined last season at Florida Atlantic, Martin worked on becoming a more efficient player by losing muscle and hoping to regain the explosiveness and agility that helped him lead the Owls to the Final Four in 2023. It worked," he wrote. "This year, he is having a career season as the Robin to Clayton's Batman with 14.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.3 APG and 1.5 SPG."
Somewhat surprisingly, Florida sixth man Thomas Haugh lands one spot ahead of frontcourt leader Alex Condon at Nos. 13 and 14, respectively. It's hard to argue with this ranking the way Haugh has played over the past couple of weeks. He sparked the comeback against Texas Tech before Clayton finished things off, and he plays starter minutes off the bench without any complaints.
"Haugh is arguably the best reserve remaining in the Final Four," he wrote. "As a key player off Florida's bench, he has averaged 13.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG in the NCAA tournament. The 6-foot-9 standout has also recorded four steals and four blocks in those four games. The boost he has given Florida has been vital to its run."
The main reason Medcalf has Condon below Haugh on this list is health. He came back quickly from an ankle sprain and has been somewhat limited ever since. He reaggravated it during the tournament, which has put more pressure on guys like Haugh to pick up the slack. Still, Condon is the most talented big on the roster when he's fully healthy, and the adrenaline that comes with playing in the Final Four could bring him back to form.
"Condon hasn't been 100% since he suffered an ankle injury in a February matchup against Mississippi State, but the Gators hope he will regain his old form, akin to when he scored 27 points in a win over Alabama last month," he wrote. "The 6-foot-11 standout is also significant for Florida's defensive efforts. A strong effort in San Antonio could also impact his NBA prospects."
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