Another college basketball season is almost upon us, which means it’s time to start talking about who the best players in the country are. With Cooper Flagg now in the NBA, the No. 1 draft spot is once again a conversation, and it’s best to break things up position-by-position this early in the cycle.

Florida still has plenty of returning talent from its national championship run, and there are a couple of new additions that are expected to make some loud noise in Orange and Blue. But are any of them among the elites in their respective roles?

Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports attempted to tackle that question with an NFL-style big board exercise. Instead of breaking things down by the traditional positions — point guard, shooting guard, etc. — Trotter took a more modern approach, listing a top five for each college basketball archetype — combo guard, true wing, stretch 4, etc.

G Boogie Fland

Three Florida Gators land on the list, starting with Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland as the No. 5 “scorer/creator” in college hoops.

“Fland is primed to smash at Florida,” Trotter wrote. “The Arkansas transfer can oscillate between running a team and going to get a bucket. Fland is an outstanding pull-up shooter — which is an essential trait for Florida’s coaching staff — and the Gators’ barrage of Gortat Screens should help him finish at the rim far more effectively, just like it did for Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard. Fland also plays defense and makes good decisions with the rock. Fland-to-Florida looks like one of the best transfer portal fits from the 2025 cycle. “

Todd Golden is a mastermind at rosterbuilding. He proved that much by winning a national championship in three seasons, pulling most of the talent from the transfer portal. If Fland is the kind of organizational fit, many seem to think he is, Florida has a good chance to repeat.

F Thomas Haugh

Thomas Haugh is the No. 5 “stretch 4/big,” according to Trotter. Haugh went from the most underrated sixth man in the country after the SEC Tournament to a potential draft pick by the end of the NCAA Tournament. Being the best at the end of the season can go a long way, and now experts are predicting a big year for the third-year forward.

“Haugh has some freaky traits,” he wrote. “The 6-9 forward has a sneaky-terrific handle. His right-hand drives are super impactful, and the size and shooting create one heck of a combination. Haugh is also an outstanding cutter who brings it on the defensive end every night and can guard multiple positions effectively. Haugh will be one of Florida’s best players in 2025-26 and will have a huge say on its chances of winning it all again.”

Of course, a slow start will be viewed as a dropoff for Haugh, so expect his name to come and go in this conversation throughout the year. Just like last season, a strong finish can rocket him up draft boards.

F Alex Condon

It’s pretty surprising to see Alex Condon as an honorable mention in the “small-ball big” category. He was a borderline first-round selection last season, and injuries are the only real knock on him. This might be an example of the inverse situation of Haugh. Condon got outshone in the playoff run, albeit with greater expectations hanging over him.

A return to form could easily move him up this list, even if it’s a deeper archetype than the other two.

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