Gators Among Leaders for Top Transfer PG

Florida is looking to replace outgoing All-American Walter Clayton Jr.

Dec 21, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Princeton Tigers guard Xaivian Lee (1) looks to pass while being defended by Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Jamichael Davis (1) and center Emmanuel Ogbole (21) during the second half at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-Imagn Images | Tom Horak-Imagn Images

The Florida Gators may have just won the national championship, but that doesn’t mean they get to rest.

With the likes of guard Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin set to leave the program, Todd Golden and his staff, which is set to lose two coaches to head coaching gigs, has to hit the transfer portal immediately, especially after missing out on talent after focusing on its postseason run.

Despite the late start, the Gators seem to be in the hunt for top talent after reportedly being a finalist that alongside St. Johns and Duke for Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee, according to college basketball insider Jeff Goodman.

Lee is considered one of the top point guard transfers in the country.

NEWS: Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee will decide between St. John’s, Duke and Florida, per @GoodmanHoops.

Averaged 16.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.5 APG as a junior. Shot 43.9% from the field. pic.twitter.com/kDrTEdrlxx

— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) April 10, 2025

Lee is coming off his second year of absolute brilliance.

In his sophomore season at Princeton, Lee averaged 17.1 points, 5.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. Despite a slight dip in his scoring average, Lee continued to dominate with 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assist per game.

Per reports from @AdamZagoria, the schools involved with 🇨🇦 6'4 PG Xaivian Lee include:

Florida
Duke
North Carolina
BYU
St. John's
Stanford

Absolutely ELECTRIC talent who ranks #5 in my mid-major analytics transfer model with a 99th percentile AST%, 94th percentile dribble… pic.twitter.com/MPzbfyYLXa

— Workin It Hoops (@workinithoops) April 9, 2025

The other schools that are trying to get Lee to join for next season are the St. Johns, which Lee will reportedly visit on Friday, and Duke.

However, it appears that it is a two-horse race between St. John’s and Florida after further reports that the Blue Devils haven't been in contact with Lee.

Florida also has a direct tie to Lee as the transfer was high school teammates with Gators' forward Thomas Haugh at Pennsburg (Pa.) Perkiomen School.

Don’t think there’s a more important transfer target for #Gators this offszn than Princeton’s Xaivian Lee.

6-4 PG, elite playmaker & a great 3-pt shooter off the dribble. Good defensive rebounder, too, & gets to FT line a bunch.

Perfect piece for next szn & worth paying up for.

— Jake Winderman (@jakewinderman) April 10, 2025

There's no perfect way to replace Clayton Jr., who was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four, but adding Lee would certainly soften the blow, should he choose the Gators. It could also open the floodgates for other transfer portal targets to join the Gators, who could just reload instead of rebuild.