Riley Kugel had every reason to think his college run was over in March. Instead, he was back at UCF on Monday, back at media day and back in the middle of a Knights roster that suddenly looks a lot different with him in it.
The former Dr. Phillips High standout returned after an Indiana Circuit Court judge in September granted him and a group of former college athletes a preliminary injunction that would give them another year of eligibility. In the chaos of college athletics in 2026, Kugel went from assuming he was done to getting another shot.
“There’s so much uncertainty, but as of right now, Riley’s able to compete,” coach Johnny Dawkins said of his Kugel’s future. “He’s able to go.
The court case ruled in his favor and so Riley is eligible. We’re excited to have him back.”
Dawkins said bringing Kugel back never really required much debate.
“He loves it here at UCF,” said Dawkins. “He wanted to come back, so it was pretty straightforward for us.”
Kugel gave UCF exactly what it needed last season. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard arrived as an experienced transfer after two seasons at Florida and one at Mississippi State, then stepped right into a major role. He started 31 games, led the Knights in scoring at 14.4 points per game and shot nearly 42% from the field.
He also helped push UCF into the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team, the program’s first postseason trip since the 2018-19 season. In the first round against UCLA, Kugel scored 13 points and added five rebounds in the loss.
After that, his path got murky. He went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, signed a summer league contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and then went unsigned after preseason camp.
A separate legal wrinkle helped open the door. In that stretch, a Colorado District Court judge issued a temporary injunction giving all 2022 college athletes another year of eligibility if they had not signed with a professional league. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that ruling in August, but it still sparked additional state-level lawsuits.
Kugel stayed around UCF while that played out.
“I’ve just been sitting and waiting for my turn,” he said. “There’s not really much you can do besides work out and kick it every day with the guys.”
Coming back was simple for him.
“I’m at home,” said Kugel. “It’s a full-circle moment.
I’m back with my friends and my family. I’m back with a couple of guys from last year and people I’ve been playing with.
It’s fun.”
His return clearly hit home for teammates too. Center John Bol, one of several returners from last season, said he reached out right away.
“When I found out that he was coming back, I Face-Timed him and said, ‘Bro, this means so much,’” said center John Bol, who played with Kugel last season. “Our top scorer from last year is coming back; now we have more options. We obviously need him on our team.”
Bol is back along with reserve guards Carmelo Pacheco and Tanner Jones, plus reserve center Elijah Hulsewe. UCF also brought in 11 newcomers over the offseason, including eight transfers and three freshmen. The group of transfers includes four guards: Cayden Vasko, Dior Johnson, Arturo Dean and Mister Dean.
Dawkins doesn’t sound worried about fitting Kugel into the mix.
“Riley’s such a versatile guard. He can play multiple perimeter positions,” said Dawkins. “He has the skill set to handle the basketball and run our team.”
For Kugel, the message is simpler. Last season ended short of where UCF wanted to go, and he’s treating this year as another crack at the finish line.
“We fell short of what we were supposed to be doing last year,” he said. “We had a great group of guys and we just couldn’t seem to figure it out.
(Coach) Dawkins and I are on the same page. This year it’s just another chance for me and the guys to try and take it all the way.”
UCF hosts Rollins College in an exhibition game Sunday at 4 p.m. at Addition Financial Arena before heading to Kentucky for another exhibition game Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at Rupp Arena. Kugel expects to play in both.
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UCF Heads Into BYU With One Problem It Cant Afford Again
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Keyone Jenkins has also taken a clear step forward as the starter, giving the offense a steadier presence as the Knights try to find some consistency. The problem is that recent games have exposed how fragile that progress can be when the second half turns sloppy, and UCF will need a cleaner finish if it wants to avoid another frustrating night against a top-10 opponent. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Backcourt Recruiting Just Took A Hit Johnny Dawkins Must Answer
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UCFs Backcourt Just Added A March Twist Johnny Dawkins Cant Ignore
Lewis Walker has already given Johnny Dawkins a reason to keep a close eye on UCFs backcourt rotation as March approaches. The North Carolina A&T transfer brings real production with him, having earned All-CAA Third Team and All-Rookie Team honors last season while giving the Knights another versatile scoring option to pair with returning guards Riley Kugel and Dior Johnson.
Walker has wasted little time making his presence felt since arriving in Orlando, and his recent 13-point outing against LSU only added to the impression that he belongs in the mix. For a UCF team looking for more reliable shot creation, the question now is not just how Walker fits, but how Dawkins chooses to use all that guard depth when the games start tightening up. [Read more 🡒]