Florida coach’s Todd Golden’s first commitment in the 2023 class, Pennsylvania power forward Thomas Haugh, has the potential to be a steal.
The 6-foot-9, 200-pound Haugh has size, a wide frame and upside.
Haugh, a 3-star prospect who announced his pledge Wednesday, considered reclassifying and taking the final scholarship available on the team’s 2022-23 roster. Instead, he will take a post-grad year at the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pa., and enroll at UF in May 2023.
Ranked No. 41 among power forwards in the 2023 class by 247Sports, Haugh could improve his ranking after joining WE R1 Basketball in the Under Armour Association. He also received offers from Maryland, Illinois and Georgia Tech.
Haugh recalled to 247Sports memories of Tim Tebow’s football success at UF.
“Florida really is a dream school and I can’t wait to get to work there,” he told 247Sports’ Jacob Rudner.
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Thomas returns: Gators’ gymnast Trinity Thomas will return to UF for the 2023 season to defend her 2022 NCAA all-around championship.
Thomas will compete for a fifth season by using the COVID exemption the NCAA offered athletes impacted by the pandemic. The 2020 season was canceled.
The 21-year-old’s return vastly improves the Gators’ chance for their first national title since 2015. UF finished runners-up to Oklahoma in April.
Thomas’ winning all-around total of 39.8625 equalled the second-highest ever in NCAA competition. She finished 2022 with 12 perfect marks, second all-time nationally during a single season, and has 20 10s during her career.
Thomas was among three finalists for the Honda Award, given the top college athlete in women’s sport. South Carolina basketball player Aliyah Boston won the award earlier this week.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.
