Reserve Guard Re-Signs with the Gators for 2026-27 Season

Another player from the 2025-26 team has recommitted himself to the Florida Gators for next season, with redshirt sophomore guard Alex Kovatchev announcing his return on social media on Wednesday.

Kovatchev joins Isaiah Brown, AJ Brown, Boogie Fland, Urban Klavzar and Alex Lloyd as Gators who have re-signed with the Gators for the 2026-27 campaign.

He played sparingly in his debut season in Gainesville, being handed just 49 total minutes across 15 games this year. He shot 3-for-12 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep in his time on the court, resulting in eight points.

pic.twitter.com/7BZsW8mFq6
— Alex Kovatchev (@Alex_Kovatchev) April 1, 2026

Kovatchev's role was a small one, mostly due to the guards ahead of him. Isaiah Brown, Fland and Klavzar each featured heavily for the Gators, leaving little time for Kovatchev to see the court.

Golden did play him in an extended role earlier in the season, though. In the game against Colgate back in December, Kovatchev played a season-high 11 minutes. Then, against Dartmouth, he played nine minutes.

The best game statistically for Kovatchev came in the Gators’ Round of 64 matchup with Prairie View. In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, he shot 2-for-4 from the field and made one of his two 3-pointers. He finished with five points and two rebounds.

Before his time in the Orange and Blue, the guard spent his time out west with Sacramento State. The Perth, Australia native played two seasons with Sacramento State, scoring 198 points in 37 appearances (16 starts).

His best year came as a freshman, starting 12 games in 33 appearances. He averaged five points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 22.8 minutes per game while also connecting on 32 3-pointers.

Kovatchev’s season high that year was against Pacific Union. He scored 15 points against his opponents. He also had three other occasions reaching double-figures.

As for his sophomore campaign, he played just the first four games before being sidelined for the remaining 28 contests with an injury. In those four games, though, he posted 8.5 points, five rebounds and 0.8 steals in 25.2 minutes per game.

Where Florida puts its focus in the transfer portal is still unclear. The Gators await decisions from nearly their entire frontcourt from last season. Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu are all considering heading to the NBA, while Micah Handlogten’s appeal for a medical redshirt for last season is still waiting for approval. Florida also lost reserve big man Olivier Rioux to the portal this week.

Once those decisions have been made, it will give the Gators a clearer idea of what positions need addressing this offseason. However, with the number of guards returning for next year, it might already be looking like a more frontcourt-heavy class.