Micah Handlogten, both pensive and anxious, awaits to check into his first game last February after recovering from a horrific compound fracture to his left leg.
One Year Later: The Court That Broke Him Crowned Him Champion
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – During a recent scrimmage break, the usual sounds of sneakers squeaking and casual court banter were suddenly drowned out by the commanding voice of associate head coach Carlin Hartman.
Hartman wasn’t just mildly annoyed—he was fired up. His frustration was aimed squarely at 7-foot-1 senior center
Micah Handlogten, who hadn’t merely missed a box-out but seemed to have skipped it entirely. The reprimand was loud, direct, and laced with intensity. “He lit into me—and he was right,” Handlogten later admitted. “I told him, ‘I got you, Coach.’ That was on me. Effort is non-negotiable.”
Handlogten—now stronger, leaner, and in peak condition—will anchor the action from day one.
Only Micah and his inner circle truly understand the journey—but Gator Nation felt every beat of last season’s emotional arc. It ended with Handlogten sobbing tears of joy, embraced by teammates, coaches, and family, as Florida climbed podium after podium on their way to a storybook NCAA title.
Handlogten—now stronger, leaner, and in peak condition—will anchor the action from day one.
“It feels so different,” said Micah Handlogten, now up to a solid 260 pounds—a notable increase from the 225–230 he carried during his 2023–24 SEC debut, where he held his own against elite competition. “Learning to play at this weight and being able to still move around at 30 pounds heavier is definitely an adjustment, but I'm starting to get more agile with it.”
UF head coach Todd Golden added: “He's as confident, as strong and as fit as he's ever been, and I couldn't be happier for him.”
Few players have earned a smooth, fulfilling run through the 2025–26 season more than Handlogten. After enduring a brutal rehab from a devastating injury, he made the selfless call to give up his planned medical redshirt and step in as a role-player—just when Florida’s frontcourt depth was stretched thin during a season with championship-level promise.
“He burned a year and showed us all that what we were trying to do was bigger than one person,” said junior forward Alex Condon. “Micah knew we needed him at the time. Once he came back, we played a different – even more unselfish – brand of basketball, and there was no looking back.”
To truly understand what Handlogten has overcome, you have to rewind—not just to the past two seasons, but even further.
Next in Line: Micah’s Rise from Big Ben’s Roots
Ben Handlogten, a 6-foot-10 center from Grand Rapids, Michigan, carved out a notable career at Western Michigan, tallying 1,167 points and 833 rebounds before graduating in 1996. His professional journey spanned nine years across Turkey, Italy, and Greece, eventually landing him with the Utah Jazz in 2003. His NBA stint lasted two seasons, one cut short by a knee injury, followed by a final year playing in Korea before retiring in 2006.
By then, Ben and his wife Danielle were raising three young kids. Micah, the youngest at age 3, was already showing signs of standing out.
In age only.
“By fourth grade, he was taller than his teachers,” Danielle recalled.
Micah excelled in soccer and lacrosse well into high school—imagine a giraffe sprinting across the Serengeti—but basketball always seemed inevitable. With Ben’s background, the court was calling. He coached Micah through youth leagues and later at SouthLake Christian Academy, a K–12 school in Huntersville, North Carolina. By the time Micah reached varsity level, Ben had transitioned into the medical supply industry.
Top row: Handlogten as a lacrosse player at SouthLake Christian
Bottom (left to right) With a sizeable reach advantage on the youth comp; younger but as tall as sisters Mia (left) and Hailey (right); as a soccer player
Although Micah Handlogten grew to a towering 7 feet, his recruitment didn’t draw much attention. Playing for a private Presbyterian school in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association—and navigating the disruptions of the Covid pandemic—meant college scouts weren’t exactly lining up.
Despite averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds as a senior, his strongest Division I offer came from Marshall.
“Micah was a late-bloomer,” said his mother, Danielle. “I'm a believer that God has a plan. If Micah had gone to a big school he probably would have sat on the bench.”
At Marshall, Handlogten made an immediate impact—starting every game, shooting 71.1% from the field, and leading the league with 9.8 rebounds per contest. His performance earned him 2023 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors.
When he entered the transfer portal that spring, interest exploded—36 schools reached out within the first 48 hours.
His parents helped organize a few campus visits, starting with Florida. Micah arrived in Gainesville with a list of questions, crafted with help from his father, aimed at head coach Todd Golden and his staff, who were coming off a 16–17 season. Was he a priority or a backup plan?
Where did he fit in the rotation? What were the team dynamics like? Could he build a meaningful connection with his coach?
On that front, “Carlin was the one Micah needed in his life,” Danielle said, referring to associate head coach Carlin Hartman.
From the very beginning, everything clicked. That night, Micah texted his mom from their hotel room with a simple message:
“This is where I’m going.”
Handlogten (3) played his sophomore season with Florida at around 230 pounds
From Role Player to SEC Force
From the moment Micah Handlogten stepped onto the court, he was Florida’s starting center in the SEC. While his scoring average hovered at 5.3 points per game and he occasionally struggled against more physically dominant opponents, his rebounding presence was undeniable. He pulled down 6.9 boards per game—nearly half on the offensive glass—including a standout performance with 23 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Georgia.
His offensive-rebound rate of 17.9% led the SEC and ranked fourth nationally.
By the time Florida reached the SEC Tournament, the team had carved out a clear identity: explosive scoring, relentless offensive rebounding, and shaky defense. Still, that formula delivered results—24 wins and a three-game surge that propelled the Gators to their first SEC Tournament championship appearance since 2014.
The opponent was 12th-ranked Auburn—a team Florida had dominated just five weeks earlier in Gainesville. The energy in the arena was electric… but only briefly.
Moments into the game, Micah Handlogten collapsed in pain, away from the ball. Before Danielle could even process what had happened, her husband was already sprinting down the steps toward the court. She followed close behind, kneeling beside her son to offer comfort.
"You can't be here now, Mom," Micah said. "You can't see this."
The game—an eventual 86–67 win for Auburn over a stunned Florida squad—faded into the background. Handlogten was quickly stabilized and prepped for surgery. Just two miles away at Vanderbilt Medical Center, one of the country’s top orthopedic surgeons was ready. A titanium rod, flown in by helicopter that same afternoon, would soon be inserted to begin the long road to recovery.
Gators coach Todd Golden comforts Handlogten after his injury. USA Today photo
The Gators headed back to Gainesville that night, but Micah Handlogten remained in Nashville to begin recovery. His mind raced—filled with uncertainty and the weight of what lay ahead. At one point, the emotional toll overwhelmed him, and he broke down, pulling his mother into the moment. “I’ll never be able to unsee, unhear or unfeel it,” he told her. It was likely the lowest point.
Later that week, Handlogten rejoined his teammates in Indianapolis for their NCAA Tournament opener. Florida players took the court wearing shirts emblazoned with “Handlogten” and his No. 3. From behind the bench, seated in a wheelchair, he watched as the Gators fell in a heartbreaking 102–100 buzzer-beater to Colorado.
The season was over. But for Handlogten, the offseason would be unlike any other—quiet, isolating, and filled with the long, solitary work of healing.
Back from the Brink
Everyone was on the same page—Micah Handlogten would take a medical redshirt year, dedicating his time to recovery and growth. There was no pressure to return early, and no one considered any alternative.
His rehab was mostly solitary, focused on upper-body strength while lower-body activity remained minimal and low-impact. That routine defined his spring, summer, and early fall.
When Florida opened its first official practice for the 2024–25 season, Handlogten was there—not in uniform, but on the sidelines. He encouraged teammates, offered support, and occasionally launched shots during breaks in the action, quietly staying connected to the game he loved.
Handlogten took his role as a spirited and passionate cheerleader for his teammates very seriously.
Handlogten’s first steps back into motion came courtesy of an anti-gravity treadmill. By early October, he was running straight-line sprints, with lateral movement and conditioning added in the weeks that followed.
Three weeks into the season, Florida traveled to Orlando for a Thanksgiving tournament. During warm-ups, Micah Handlogten felt something shift—not physically, but mentally.
“I couldn’t do a lot, but I remember thinking I felt really, really good,” he said. “That was different.”
The plan, however, remained unchanged. “Our goal all along was to have him be a full practice player by the time the conference games started in January,” said UF head trainer Jon Michelini. “We pushed him pretty hard.”
After a series of evaluations by Florida’s medical team—including trainers, strength staff, physical therapists, and orthopedic specialists—Handlogten was cleared for full contact. No restrictions. He quickly became a formidable presence on the scout team, giving teammates like Alex Condon a true test in practice.
In late January, after watching Florida struggle on the boards during a comeback win at South Carolina, Handlogten approached the staff about suiting up. Inside the program, the response was enthusiastic. Back home in North Carolina, however, his parents had reservations.
“It’s your life and your decision, but I do not support this,” his father told him. That was Wednesday. By Friday afternoon, Handlogten was practicing with the blue-shirt starters. He was ready. By Friday night, he wasn’t.
“I definitely got cold feet,” Handlogten admitted. “My dad has always been my voice of reason. He sensed I wanted to do it, but he didn’t think I was mentally there—and he was right. It was kind of a want-versus-need scenario. I wanted to play, but I needed to know that I was comfortable playing. I had been through practices, but the thought of playing in games—live, full speed, in front of 12,000 fans—honestly, it scared me. Fear of myself, fear of failure, fear of what might happen. I had doubts, and I didn’t want any doubts.”
He sat out the Jan. 28 game against Georgia.
Then came Feb. 11. In a road matchup at Mississippi State, Condon rolled his ankle just 30 seconds into the game and couldn’t return. Later, backup forward Sam Alexis went down with foot and ankle injuries during a scramble under the basket.
Suddenly, the Gators—ranked third nationally with a 21–3 record—were missing half their frontcourt rotation, at least for the short term.
Handlogten, who had leaned heavily on prayer throughout his recovery, turned again to his faith. Watching Condon and Alexis grind through rehab and stationary bike sessions during practice weighed on him. The moment was approaching—and he knew it.
Handlogten was all smiles on his first retreat up the court in his first appearance of the season, a home win over South Carolina.
“It just got to a tipping point. Those guys were hurt, and the team needed me,” Micah Handlogten said, reflecting on the moment his heart overruled hesitation. “I mean, I was running up and down, feeling good and was like, ‘What am I doing?’ Those guys had been with me through it all, surrounding me and supporting me 24/7. Their love carried me through one of the hardest times of my life. If they were willing to do that for me – push me when I'm down, tell me not to give up – I had to do something for them.”
On February 14, during Florida’s routine pregame media session, Handlogten walked in alongside head coach Todd Golden and made his announcement. Calm, direct, and unmistakable: He was back. For real this time.
The team, he said, had a shot at a national title—and he intended to help them chase it.
Bold step. Bold words.
Back Stronger: Florida’s Title Catalyst
Before Florida’s Feb. 15 home game against South Carolina, Micah Handlogten shared a heartfelt moment in the stands—a group hug and prayer with his family. “It was scary,” said his mother, Danielle. “I spent most of that time crying tears of worry, but when he got into the game it was tears of joy.”
Just four minutes into the game, Handlogten was called to the scorer’s table. As he waited for a stoppage to check in, his mind raced. When the PA announcer said his name, the crowd erupted in a standing ovation that sent chills through him—and nearly brought tears.
Twenty-one seconds after stepping on the court, he caught a pass in the post and fired a kick-out to Denzel Aberdeen, who drained a three. Message received: he was back. Handlogten logged 20 minutes—twice what he expected—finishing with two points, four rebounds, and a career-best five assists. Florida cruised to victory.
“We already had a high ceiling,” said associate head coach Carlin Hartman. “He raised it even higher.”
With Alex Condon back in the lineup just weeks later, Florida surged to close out the regular season—winning their final four games and entering the SEC Tournament as the No. 2 seed. Over three days, the Gators rolled past No. 15 Missouri, No. 5 Alabama, and No. 8 Tennessee—the last victory coming in the championship game, played on the very court where Micah Handlogten had suffered his injury exactly 366 days earlier.
UF associate head coach Carlin Hartman and Handlogten share a special moment after winning the 2025 SEC Tournament just one year and a day to Handlogten's tragic injury on the very same floor in Nashville.
The hugs and tears that followed were a year in the making.
And that was only the beginning. Similar scenes unfolded in San Francisco after Florida clinched the NCAA West Region title, and again in San Antonio, where the Gators captured the national championship against Houston. As the final buzzer sounded, tournament hero Walter Clayton Jr. launched himself into Handlogten’s arms—an image that instantly became one of the defining moments of March Madness.
“Total validation,” said associate head coach Carlin Hartman.
Handlogten, flanked by mother Danielle and father Ben, after defeating Texas Tech in the NCAA West Region title game to advance to the Final Four.
“Micah got the ultimate reward,” said head coach Todd Golden. “Just calling it like it is, playing for a national championship would have been the only reason I would have come back. He saw it and took a leap of faith, trusted in his teammates, and we did it. And, honestly, I'm not sure we win it without him. He was impactful every step of the way and gave us a big lift on and off the floor.”
From doubt to dominance, Handlogten’s journey became one of the defining arcs of Florida’s championship run—a leap of faith that turned into a legacy.
New Season, Same Mission
That chapter is written. The story of Florida’s NCAA title run is complete. But echoes of that championship squad—and Micah Handlogten’s senior season—still resonate.
Especially in the frontcourt.
A slam versus Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. [NCAA photo]
Rueben Chinyelu, who started all 40 games last year, returns stronger than ever. Alex Condon, a third-team All-SEC honoree and Florida’s top rebounder, tested the NBA waters but chose to come back. So did Thomas Haugh, widely considered the best sixth man in college basketball and now primed for a breakout junior campaign. And then there’s Handlogten—leaner, more explosive, and under 10% body fat for the first time. He’ll technically come off the bench, but expect starter-level minutes. “Backup” is just a label.
Micah Handlogten, 2025 national champion (with trophy to prove it)
Handlogten, however, stared down the adversity. A season that brought so much fulfilment now flips to one of incredible (maybe even unrealistic) expectation in the quest to repeat as national champions – "from hunters to hunted," Handlogten said – but that's a long way from being flat on his back in Nashville.
And it's exactly the kind of challenge he came to Florida for. And now, in the best shape of his life, Micah Handlogten has immersed himself in the joy of it all.
With Hartman still very much in his ear. Every day.
"I'm a Florida Gator – and there is so much joy in that – but now I wake up every day as a national champion and they can never take that away from me," he said. "You know how many people dream to be in the position I'm in right now?"
He answered the question.
"Countless," Handlogten said. "And I count my blessings every day."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
