Florida's starting 5 all crack CBS Sports' top 101 basketball players
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Florida's starting 5 all crack CBS Sports' top 101 basketball players
Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire
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4 min read
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Floridabasketball's starting five is among the nation's most formidable lineups heading into the 2026-27 campaign after returning four starters and 81.8% of its scoring from last year while re-adding a key contributor from the program's national championship in 2025.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the Gators' quintet all cracked CBS Sports'"Top 100 And 1" playerswho will define the upcoming season — albeit barely — further reinforcing their position atop both the preseason editions of theUSA TODAY Sports Coaches PollandAP Top 25.
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Thomas Haugh (No. 2), Rueben Chinyelu (No. 14), Alex Condon (No. 16), Boogie Fland (No. 60) and Denzel Aberdeen (No. 100) together tie Florida with Duke for schools with the most players on the list while helping the SEC and its 30 representatives lead the way among conferences.
Below is where each Gator ranks and why they landed where they did on the list.
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Waugh speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Waugh speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Waugh speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3/17
CBS Sports reveals Florida's staggering $25 million-plus roster value
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
5/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
6/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
7/17
Florida's Todd Golden discusses preseason Baylor loss, Stetson matchup
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
8/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Waugh speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Waugh speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
10/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Thomas Waugh speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
12/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
15/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
16/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
17/17
PHOTOS: Florida men's basketball at 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators forward Alex Condon speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images
(Butch Dill, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Thomas Haugh — Small Forward (No. 2)
"The face of Florida's quest to be the first team in 18 years to go from preseason No. 1 to national champion. Haugh and a few of his teammates already know what that feels like. Can they do it again? If Haugh is one of the three best players in college basketball, their chances will be pretty good," Matt Norlander offers.
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"Haugh averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his junior season. He turned down being a likely top-20 pick in order to come back as college basketball's most well-compensated player. He's got infectious on-floor energy, a great toughness streak, a terrific second jump and the ability to draw fouls at a high clip. Now we wait to see if he'll add a Takeover Mode to his game."
Rueben Chinyelu — Center (No. 14)
"The reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year is part of a massive and intimidating Florida frontline that has earned back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament," Cameron Salerno notes.
"During Chinyelu's first season at Florida, the Gators won the national title. With Chinyelu and three other starters returning, the Gators will be the favorites to be the final team standing in college basketball. Chinyelu was one of 14 players in Division I who averaged a double-double (10.9 points, 11.2 rebounds) last season."
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Alex Condon — Center (No. 16)
"Condon is a two-time All-SEC performer who averaged 10.6 points as a sophomore for the Florida team that won the 2025 NCAA Tournament, then 15.1 points as a junior for the Florida team that earned a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Now he's back for a fourth year with the Gators in a development that played a big role in Todd Golden's program securing the No. 1 spot in thepreseason Top 25 And 1," says Gary Parrish.
"Condon is a part of what is widely considered to be college basketball's best three-player frontcourt. All three players are in the top 16 of these rankings, which suggests the label is appropriate."
Boogie Fland — Point Guard (No. 60)
"Fland's AWOL jumper hid the fact that he did so many good things for Florida down the stretch," Isaac Trotter begins. "He was Florida's best perimeter defender, and he posted one or fewer turnovers in 19 of 35 games. Plus, he shot a career-best 63% at the rim thanks to Florida's swath of Gortat screens. If he's just a solid shooter, Fland is one of the best two-way guards in college basketball."
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Denzel Aberdeen — Shooting Guard (No. 100)
"Aberdeen is my writer's choice because he will be extremely impactful on the best team in college basketball," Salerno notes. "Aberdeen played a key role on Florida's title team in 2025 before transferring to Kentucky last season. If Aberdeen is cleared to play and granted a fifth year, he would start in the backcourt next to former blue-chip recruit Boogie Fland."
Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Georgia, Iowa State, Maryland, Mississippi State, NC State, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio State, Purdue, Providence, TCU, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin: 1
Players by class:
Seniors: 38
Sophomores: 22
Juniors: 21
Freshmen: 10
Fifth-years: 10
Players by conference
SEC: 30
Big Ten: 23
Big 12: 17
ACC: 15
Big East: 11
Pac-12: 4
Mountain West: 1
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