Head coach Todd Golden and the Florida Gators visited the White House on Wednesday, a celebratory trip that included a special invitation to the Oval Office. Golden has had a whirlwind of accomplishments lately—securing one of the top transfers in Arkansas guard Boogie Fland, tossing the ceremonial first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game, earning the Winged Foot Award from the New York Athletic Club (plus a yearlong membership), and signing a six-year, $40.5 million contract extension.
“It’s been incredible,” Golden said Thursday. “All these rewards and opportunities came because we won. We’re trying to make the most of it. There’s no promise this will ever happen again, so we’re staying grounded and grateful.
The momentum began on April 7, when Florida rallied from 12 points down in the second half to upset Houston 65-63 in San Antonio. Since then, Golden has been rebuilding his backcourt after the departures of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard.
He brought in Princeton’s Xaivian Lee, a 6-foot-4 Toronto native who posted averages of 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists last season. A week later, guard AJ Brown from Ohio University joined the fold.
But the most notable acquisition came Tuesday with the signing of Boogie Fland, who is expected to fill the role left by Denzel Aberdeen—who transferred to Kentucky. Fland, a freshman from New York, averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals for Arkansas, playing nearly 32 minutes per game.
Now, Lee and Fland are expected to lead an offense that could rival or even exceed the scoring records set over the past two seasons behind Clayton.
“I think it’s going to be a great fit,” Golden said. “Having two point guards who can both create plays makes the offense very dynamic. They’ll share ball-handling duties, push the pace in transition, and keep opposing defenses on their heels.”
With much of Florida’s frontcourt returning—and Golden “cautiously optimistic” about Alex Condon returning after testing the NBA waters—the Gators are poised to be a preseason favorite to repeat as national champions.
“As we bring this new group together, we’ll still use last season’s success as a benchmark,” Golden said. “This new team has high expectations to meet.”
The White House visit was the final team event before summer workouts begin on June 9 in Gainesville. The program chartered a 30-person flight for players, coaches, and staff, with others meeting them in D.C.
Notably, Walter Clayton Jr. flew in from California, and 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux traveled from Canada. Transfers like Aberdeen and Indiana’s Sam Alexis returned for the visit, along with former assistant coaches Kevin Hovde and John Andrzejek—now head coaches at Columbia and Campbell, respectively. All had the chance to take a photo with President Donald Trump.
“That’s something these guys will never forget,” Golden said.
Although Golden, 39, is unlikely to spend the rest of his career in Gainesville, he said he has no immediate plans to jump to the NBA—even though his new contract lowers the buyout if he leaves for the pros.
“It’s more about leaving the door open for future opportunities,” he explained. “Contracts are real life—you want flexibility. But as far as college coaching goes, I’m here at Florida long-term. It’s everything I want, and it’s perfect for my family.”