The non-conference portion of the schedule is all about racking up resume building wins and preparing the team for conference play, but for fans it’s also an opportunity to see some different teams that they might not normally watch. Unfamiliar teams can bring on new players that you might not have heard of or watched before, so here is a rundown of the best player from each team that the Gators will play in the non-conference season.

 

Jaden Bradley
Arizona

There was a lot of turnover in the Arizona roster but they are still expected to be a quality team once again and they’ll be led by senior Jaden Bradley, a player who has spent his entire career with the Wildcats. A 6’3” guard, Bradley got on the floor early in his career with his defense but has since become a strong downhill driver who averaged 12.1 points per game last season. Look for Bradley to try and improve his jumper this season to become more of an offensive threat.

 

Kamrin Oriol
North Florida

Player retention has been a major problem at North Florida in recent years and this season is no different. One of their most productive returners is guard Kamrin Oriol who averaged 7.3 points per game last season, and he’ll have to take a big leap if the Ospreys are to finish anywhere near the bottom of the sport. A traditional North Florida guard, Oriol will take any three he has a chance at shooting and he has shot consistently averaging 35% on his career. Devin Hines, a transfer from Lafayette, could also compete for UNF’s most important player spot with his distribution and ball handling.

 

Lajae Jones
Florida State

Florida State has always wanted long, athletic defenders and despite a coaching change new head coach Luke Loucks wants to keep that going with players like Lajae Jones, a 6’7” guard who is transferring in from St. Bonaventure. What does make Jones a bit different than the typical FSU athlete is that he can make catch and shoot threes, something that will fill a void from recent seasons.

 

Malik Reneau
Miami

That’s right, a player that was once committed to the Gators will now be one of the best players they go against in non-conference play. Reneau was committed to the Gators under Mike White and chose to open up his recruitment when Florida made a coaching change. Ultimately he went to Indiana who has had three rough years with Reneau on the roster, though he was a bright spot the last two seasons averaging 15.4 and 13.3 points. Undersized in the post, he hasn’t been the most impactful defender or rebounder–but he has excellent footwork on the interior and can really score. The Miami native chose to go back home after hitting the portal from Indiana.

 

Todd Brogna
Merrimack

Todd Brogna will be in his first year at Merrimack after transferring from Stonehill where he was an effective stretch big averaging 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. After shooting 40% from three last year, look for head coach Joey Gallo to try to find him open shots in pick and pop scenarios.

 

Jayden Pierre
TCU

Bringing some scoring punch to the TCU backcourt is Jayden Pierre, a 6’2” transfer from Providence who impressed with his long-range shooting ability. Also under consideration was a very interesting player in Xavier Edmonds, the top rated JUCO player in the country who many are expecting to be TCU’s best player. He’s a physical, athletic forward.

 

Cameron Boozer
Duke

Cameron Boozer…you may have heard of him? That’s right, the number three ranked player in the loaded class of 2025 will be featured on Duke’s roster from the forward position, and while he isn’t expected to have the same kind of impact that Cooper Flagg just had as a freshman, many analysts consider Boozer to be the most college ready of any player in the class and someone who is slated to have an even better college season than the two players ranked ahead of him. Versatility is the name of the game for Boozer who might not dazzle with his flair, though he’ll beat you in a number of ways with his vision, strength, and skill.

 

Alex Karaban
UConn

Given that Karaban played an important role in both UConn championships it really feels like he has been around the game forever, and Florida also got to see him firsthand in last year’s NCAA Tournament. A career 38% three-point shooter in his three years of heavy volume in important games, Karaban is about as reliable a shooter as there is in college basketball. Also watch for Georgia transfer Silas Demary to have a breakout season in a new offense that is much more suited towards his strengths.

 

Garrett Johnson
George Washington

After an excellent freshman season, look for Garrett Johnson to really make his name known around college basketball. The Atlantic Ten is a great league where freshmen don’t often make an impact, but you wouldn’t tell Johnson that. The 6’8” wing shot 40% from three on six attempts per game to average 13.4 points per game, something that very few first year players can accomplish. Now, with an even stronger roster around him, Johnson could take another step.

 

Skylar Wicks
Saint Francis

Saint Francis had a miracle run to the NCAA Tournament by winning the NEC as an underdog, but they weren’t able to parlay it into increasing their recruiting power. Skylar Wicks had a nice season with Incarnate Word in 2023-24 before missing most of his 2024-25 season with UTSA due to injury, and Saint Francis is hoping he’ll bring some toughness on the wing.

 

Jalen Cox
Colgate

Colgate did a great job of retaining guard Jalen Cox who certainly would have had offers to go to bigger leagues after he scored 11.9 points while adding 3.9 assists per game. Cox is extremely intelligent and can make some creative plays with the ball, largely as he looks to find his teammates for open looks.

 

Brandon Mitchell-Day
Dartmouth

Retention is harder than ever in college basketball, but one league that has defied the odds and has done a good job of retaining talent is the Ivy League due to players largely attending these institutions for more reasons than just basketball. Brandon Mitchell-Day fits this category perfectly, as the 6’8” forward returns after scoring 13.6 points and adding 7.8 rebounds per game. Mitchell-Day doesn’t have a hulking frame, but he plays assertively and will battle for space on the inside whether to score or to get an offensive rebound.