On the heels of the 2025 national championship, Florida men's basketball announced a pair of newcomers on Tuesday.
Florida Adds a Proven Playmaker to the 2025–26 Backcourt
Florida men’s basketball is adding two new faces to its 2025–26 roster, as head coach Todd Golden announced Tuesday: rising senior guard Xaivian Lee and incoming freshman CJ Ingram have officially signed on.
Lee, a standout at Princeton, averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists during the 2024–25 season, bringing his career total to 1,154 points.
The Toronto native recorded two triple-doubles and ten 20-point performances last season, including a 21-point, 11-assist double-double in a neutral-site win over Rutgers. A two-time unanimous first-team All-Ivy League honoree, Lee also set a Princeton single-season record with 165 assists.
"We are elated to welcome Xaivian Lee into our program here at the University of Florida," Golden said. "We strive to identify high-achieving young men who excel in all areas of their lives, and Xaivian is a great example. Xaivian is an electric play-maker that is an equal threat to score or facilitate off the bounce. He does a great job of leading the team, putting his teammates in position to be successful while taking great care of the basketball. While our three senior leaders move on from the perimeter, it was really important to add someone of Xaivian's caliber both as a player and as a person."
Xaivian Lee was a two-time unanimous All-Ivy League Selection while at Princeton.
Xaivian Lee brings a proven scoring pedigree to Gainesville. The 6-foot-4 guard notched four 30-point games during his collegiate career, including two career-best 33-point performances against Harvard and Dartmouth. After his freshman season, Lee represented Canada at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, where he averaged 14.1 points per game and helped lead the team to a quarterfinal finish.
Joining him in Florida’s 2025 freshman class is CJ Ingram, fresh off his senior campaign at Montverde Academy. A native of Hawthorne, Fla., Ingram earned a spot in the Jordan Brand Classic alongside fellow incoming Gator Alex Lloyd and received honorable mention recognition on the Naismith High School Boys’ All-America Team.
CJ Ingram is a top-25 signee and Naismith All-America honorable mention.
"CJ is a huge addition for our program," Golden said. "We consistently talk about having guys with great attitudes, work ethics, and most importantly, the desire to be a Gator. Coming from a legacy Gator family, we know how much he cares about wearing the orange and blue.
CJ was a multi-sport star who just this past year, focused solely on basketball, and you can see the great strides he's made already. CJ is a fantastic young man who comes from a great family and will represent our program very well. We are thrilled to welcome him!"
CJ Ingram arrives in Gainesville with elite pedigree and high expectations. The 6-foot-6 wing is ranked in the top 25 of the 2025 recruiting class by ESPN, 247Sports, and On3. His athletic roots run deep—his father, Cornelius Ingram, was an All-SEC tight end and national champion with Florida football from 2004–08, and also suited up for 19 basketball games during his freshman year.
