Riley Kugel may not be done in college hoops after all.
The UCF senior guard, who led the Knights in scoring last season and gave them a real two-way edge on the floor, now has a path to potentially come back for another year after a major court ruling over the weekend. Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado approved an injunction giving all class of 2022 high school graduates the chance to add an extra season of eligibility.
That matters for Kugel because his value to UCF went well beyond points. He averaged a team-best 14.4 per game, but he also drew the toughest defensive assignment plenty of nights, taking on the opposing team’s top ball handler and using a blend of physicality and lateral quickness to stay in front of drivers.
His season had a few clear spikes. Early in non-conference play against Vanderbilt, Kugel announced himself with 25 points and went 4-of-5 from 3-point range. That game was the second of a seven-game stretch in which he scored at least 12 points.
Later, after an ankle injury on Feb. 17 against TCU sidelined him for two games, Kugel came back swinging against Baylor. He poured in a career-high 26 points and added five assists and five rebounds in an 87-86 loss, including 14 second-half points as UCF tried to erase a double-digit halftime deficit.
Dawkins praised his guard after that performance, noting how much Kugel gave the team despite the layoff and the limited practice time.
"Well, he's talented young player and of course, he's one of our best players and so, you know, I think you're always better when your best players are able to play out there on the floor for you and so it's good to have him back," Dawkins said. "And I I thought he gave us, you know, everything that he had.
I thought he, you know, he gave us everything considering he's been out for quite a while. He's missed several games and had very limited practices.
And so, I thought for what he went through and, you know, it was impressive because a lot of players couldn't have done what he did tonight based on the limited reps he's taken since the injury."
Kugel kept it rolling in the next game, finishing with 18 efficient points against Oklahoma State on 7-of-14 shooting.
After UCF’s March Madness loss to UCLA in the first round, Kugel reflected on the season and what he hoped the team would be remembered for.
"I would say a a team that battled through ups and downs, that you know, persevered through. No matter what critics, media said, preseason polls.
You know, just 13 individuals that came together who had one goal," Kugel said. "We came up short, but still to come this far, we didn't came far.
So, just to be able to, you know, buy in and lock into what the coaches are telling us, Coach Dawkins is telling us throughout the whole year and just staying together. I think you've got to respect it."
Following that lone season back home, Kugel declared for the NBA Draft.
He also made the most of his limited opportunity there, hitting his only shot attempt, a 3-pointer. Kugel checked in during the second quarter, got loose on the wing and confidently buried the triple.
If he does decide to return, UCF will be in the mix to bring him back. But it won’t be a solo pursuit - other programs are expected to get involved too.
In Other News...
UCFs Backup Quarterback Battle Is Already Taking Shape
The early shape of UCFs quarterback room is starting to come into focus as Scott Frost begins sorting out the depth chart behind clear starter Alonza Barnett III. Boise State transfer Kaleb Annett is getting the second-team reps for now, putting him in the lead position in a group that also includes the experienced Keyone Jenkins and promising freshman Rocco Marriott.
Frost has made it sound like the Knights feel good about the room overall, pointing to the talent and professionalism inside it. Even so, the backup job is one of the more important battles on the roster, and the mix of a transfer, a veteran and a young arm gives UCF more than one way this could play out as camp moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Lewis Carter Is Setting The Tone For UCFs Defensive Turnaround
Lewis Carter has taken on a bigger role in UCFs defensive reset, and the linebacker is treating it like a job that starts long before kickoff. Coach Scott Frost has identified Carter as the leader of that side of the ball, and Carter has responded by leaning into a more professional routine, spending more time on film study and setting a standard for how the Knights prepare.
For a defense that had trouble forcing turnovers and stopping the run on the road last season, that kind of voice matters. UCF does not just need better execution away from home, it needs more accountability from within the room, and Carter is making it clear he wants to be part of the fix. The question now is whether that tone can carry over once the season puts the defense under pressure again. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Camp Injuries Could Reshape A Few Early Depth Chart Battles
Fall camp has opened with Scott Frost saying UCF is mostly in good shape physically, but a few early injury notes are worth tracking as the Knights start sorting out jobs across the roster. Defensive tackle Jackson Jr. is still working back from a toe issue that began in spring practice, while edge rusher Bruno Dall is dealing with a strained hamstring. Even with those bumps, the staff sounds comfortable enough with the overall health of the team to keep camp moving without major disruption.
The secondary got another brief scare when defensive back Jailen Duffie recently picked up a toe injury during plyometric jumps, adding one more name to a list that could affect some of the early depth chart battles. Frost has described the setback as short-term, and UCF believes it has enough depth to absorb a few absences while players get back up to speed. Still, in a camp where every rep matters, even minor injuries can have a way of nudging the competition in a different direction. [Read more 🡒]