Florida Picks up Clayton Jr. Replacement in Transfer Portal

Florida Picks Up Clayton Jr. Replacement Xavian Lee in Transfer Portal

What Does Xavian Lee Bring to Florida?

Whatever Lee lacks in size, he makes up for with athleticism and hustle. He has an incredible burst that showed up against even power conference opponents. While his size and strength will always be a question, Lee has proven an ability to produce at elite levels. This past season, Lee averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game to go along with 1.2 steals. He shot 43.9% from the floor and 36.6% from three. Lee also had two triple-doubles this season against St. Joe’s and Penn. Xavian Lee will bring every stat in the book to Florida at an elite level for his size.

People will undoubtedly wonder whether a player like Lee would be able to compete in the best conference in basketball. After sending a record 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament, the SEC won the national championship. The Ivy League sent one team to the tournament, Yale, which bowed out in the opening round. However, one should look no further than Danny Wolf, the Yale transfer who made the Big Ten look no better than the Ivy League at times. Elite talent travels to any conference and performs. Maybe Lee won’t have triple-doubles for the Gators, but he will bring all the skills to be a strong, productive player on a winning team.

What Holes Does Florida Have to Fill to Go Back-to-Back?

Lee loves to push the ball forward, making him the perfect addition to Florida for next season. However, the Gators also need a wing or two and potentially another big man after Alex Condon declared for the NBA draft. They have two guards/wings coming into their high school class, but it is important to exercise caution with freshman recruits. Until they step foot on the floor, you can’t expect anything from them.

For now, elite frontcourt depth like Darrion Williams at Texas Tech remains available. Until they’ve exhausted all options in the portal, the Gators should continue to build an elite roster for next season. Todd Golden is building a great program at Florida, but he knows the importance of building with the transfer portal. Lee is the first piece of the puzzle for Florida, but they need to find more depth fast. An elite center and an elite wing would solve a lot of problems. However, they need to have the strength and size to compete against the men in the SEC. For now, Lee is a great pick-up for the national champions.