Projected lottery pick Thomas Haugh returns to Florida

BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ

A projected lottery pick for the 2026 NBA Draft is heading back to college instead.

Florida forward Thomas Haugh will play for head coach Todd Golden for another season, per ESPN.

Florida junior Thomas Haugh — a projected potential lottery pick — will return to the Gators next season, he tells me, @JeremyWoo and @jeffborzello. With the 2027 Player of the Year candidate back in the fold, Florida becomes the favorite to open next season at No. 1. pic.twitter.com/mfxOlFm3Wm

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 21, 2026

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assist per game in his junior season for the Gators.

Haugh becomes the fourth player in program history to return to UF after making an All-America team, an elite list that consists of Haugh, Joakim Noah, Udonis Haslem and Neal Walk.

His return to Florida is critical for a team looking to continue to make runs in March. Golden will now be able to build around the potential Player of the Year candidate next season.

Follow Alejandro Lopez on Twitter

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

Follow ZAGSBLOGHOOPS on Instagram

Like ZAGS on Facebook

The post Projected lottery pick Thomas Haugh returns to Florida appeared first on Zagsblog.