ChompTalk.com

On Wednesday, Florida sophomore guard Riley Kugel announced that he will be entering the transfer portal.

The Orlando, Florida native originally committed to the Gators as the No. 56 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class, and was head coach Todd Golden’s first signee.

Kugel shined as a freshman, averaging just under 10 points per game on the season, while putting up an impressive 12.6 points per game in SEC play.

After his strong freshman campaign, expectations for Kugel were high heading into the 2023 season.

However, Kugel’s efficiency dropped, and so did his play time. He only averaged 9.2 points per game on the season, mostly coming off of the Florida bench.

He also seemed to be out of sync with Golden, who chose not to play Kugel major minutes in the second half of the season.

Now, the 20 year-old Kugel will look to continue his collegiate career elsewhere, as he announced on Instagram.

“I’m thankful to all of the Gator Nation for nothing but love and support over these past two years,” Kugel said. “With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal.”

Kugel is the third departure for the Gators, as senior guard Zyon Pullin and forward Tyrese Samuel both have used their remaining eligibility and will not return to Florida next season.