Thomas Haugh’s decision to return to Florida for the 2026/27 season looked anything but likely when the 2026 season wrapped up. He was being discussed as a possible lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and a move to the pros seemed inevitable.
Instead, Haugh stayed put. He, along with Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, chose to come back to Gainesville for another run.
Haugh said this week that he still has unfinished business, but he also made clear that the current college basketball environment played a major role in his decision. Speaking on “The Field of 68,” he laid out how player-friendly the sport has become.
“I think it’s just the amount of money that these guys are getting, we’re getting, it’s kind of like a pro league. If you look at the pros, you get trades.
It’s kind of like how the transfer portal works. It’s like everything the pros have, but dumbed down a little bit into college.
I think that’s kind of how it is. I think it’s a good thing - I do think some laws and stuff will probably come into play here soon with the NCAA.
But for us as players, I think it’s the golden time to be in college basketball. I think all these guys, especially at the University of Florida with our collective, we’re going to take advantage of that. It’s been great so far, to me, but I do think there will be some laws and stuff that go in place here soon.”
Haugh’s return also puts the money side of the decision in sharp focus. Former Gator Alijah Martin recently signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Raptors worth just under $5 million, which is real money by any measure.
But reports had Haugh’s NIL deal for this coming season in the $8 million to $10 million range, making a return to school a massive guaranteed payday before his NBA future. There’s also the possibility that the new “Five for Five” legislation coming down the pipeline could allow Haugh to return for a fifth year in 2027/28 if he wants.
For Florida, the bigger picture is hard to miss: when top players have more reason to stay, college basketball gets stronger. And for Gators fans, Haugh sticking around gives them a real chance to chase another national title in 2027.
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