Florida Guard Riley Kugel Named to Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Photo: Riley Kugel; Credit: Zach Goodall
Florida Gators guard Riley Kugel was named to the Preseason All-Southeastern Conference Second Team, as voted on by a panel of national and regional media members on Tuesday, ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Kugel returns to the University of Florida following a breakout freshman campaign in which he averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and one assist per game, to present head coach Todd Golden a key cog for his program rebuild in Gainesville.
The Orlando, Fla., native was a late addition to Florida's 2023 recruiting class, committing to the in-state program on May 23, 2022, over LSU and Georgia.
After a steady progression to begin his career in orange and blue, Kugel began to flash his strengths as a high-level shot creator during the SEC, sparking a Florida offense with a propensity to go stagnant.
Kugel realized an exponential increase in playing time as a result, eclipsing the starting rotation in the back half of the season before taking over as the undenied top offensive option upon center Colin Castleton's season-ending injury suffered on Feb. 15.
He took advantage to average a team-high 17 points per contest in his final 10 appearances.
Kugel's impressive freshman showing, encompassing his skill set as a three-level scorer on and off-ball, adept court vision and elite athleticism, created buzz regarding his potential jump to the professional level. However, after conversations with his "main core" and self-reflection, he opted to prolong his NBA Draft entry in favor of another year at Florida.
"I didn't want to leave college with a negative record," Kugel told local media on Oct. 10. "I don't want to leave college with a 16-17 record and 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 and I just want to make it as far as we can — hopefully play for a national championship."
In doing so, Kugel's become a de facto leader of the new-look Gators squad alongside Will Richard as the two starters of just four returning scholarship players from a season ago.
As Kugel looks to translate his end-of-season excellence to the 2023-24 campaign, he will spearhead the retooled Gators in their quest to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021-22 — when guard Tre Mann elevated Florida to a second-round berth.
You can find the complete All-SEC team list below, including the projection for SEC Player of the Year.
First Team
G Wade Taylor IV - Texas A&M
G Santiago Vescovi - Tennessee
G Justin Edwards - Kentucky
F Grant Nelson - Alabama
F Trevon Brazile - Arkansas
F Johni Broome - Auburn
F Tolu Smith - Mississippi State
Second Team
G Mark Sears - Alabama
G Davonte Davis - Arkansas
G Riley Kugel - Florida
G Antonio Reeves - Kentucky
G Zakai Zeigler - Tennessee
SEC Player of the Year
G Wade Taylor IV - Texas A&M
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