Returning Gators to their winning ways motivates Orlando’s Riley Kugel
GAINESVILLE — Orlando shooting guard Riley Kugel arrived at UF a winner, leaving the promising freshman with unfinished business following a 16-17 debut.
Kugel, a former standout and state champion at Dr. Phillips, put his NBA dreams on hold to help place the Gators on a title-bound trajectory during Year 2 under Todd Golden.
“I didn’t want to leave college. I won’t say as a loser … I didn’t want to leave college with a negative record,” Kugel said in October. “I don’t want to leave college going, ‘OK, I was on a team that barely won. He did that, that’s cool.’ I want to be on a winning team, show people I can play on a winning team.
“I just want to make it as far as we can — hopefully play for a national championship.”
Wherever the 2023-24 season ends up, Kugel will be front and center after an impressive closing stretch to his first season, including a career-high 24 points against Kentucky, led him to briefly entertain the idea of turning professional.
Instead, the Gators’ most explosive, versatile player attacked the offseason. They open the season Monday vs. Loyola, Md.
“He’s made a huge jump,” Golden said. “It’s really in his consistency.”
Kugel provided a preview of what was to come after star big man Colin Castleton broke his hand Feb. 15 against Ole Miss to leave the Gators rudderless. Kugel averaged 18.3 points during the final eight games, five of them losses as Florida missed the NCAA tournament and was routed during the second round of the NIT by UCF.
Despite being picked to finished eighth in the SEC, Golden’s squad appears poised for a turnaround with Kugel leading a much-improved roster.
During a recent scrimmage against Miami, the 6-foot-5, 206-pound sophomore tallied 20 points and 9 rebounds as Florida stunned the Hurricanes 91-89 on the heels of their Final Four appearance.
In a handful of practices opening, Kugel stood out among a more talented crop of players, including talented transfers such as former Iona star guard Walter Clayton Jr. of Lake Wales and 6-foot-11 Australian freshman Alex Condon.
“The way he’s practicing has been super consistent in going really, really hard and really raises the level of our team,” Golden said. “He’s just playing at a really, really high level and being really efficient, unselfish, smart and competing really hard on both ends. It’s what we expect in our program. When guys go from freshman to sophomore we expect them to make a really big jump.
“He’s doing that.”
Kugel’s court vision is exceptional while his quickness allows him to attack lanes toward the basket. Yet, he prides himself on unselfishness.
“I always saw the court … that’s the best part of my game,” he said. “I can see where everybody is. A lot of people think of me as a scorer. But I feel like my best ability is passing the ball and just being able to find guys and get them open shots … just create an overall good game for everyone.”
Kugel’s team-first approach at Dr. Phillips helped the Panthers win their first state title, the 2021 7A crown.
To channel those championship ways, Kugel changed his number from 24 back to the 2 he wore in high school. Before he leaves Gainesville, he aims to be a winner again.
“Since the first couple of days, I kind of had the visual that we are going to be a winning team this year,” he said. “It kind of gets me going a little. Once you see that kind of stuff, it can take the team really far.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com