Florida basketball has been active in the transfer portal since the end of the 2023-24 season.
The Florida Gators added their third transfer to the 2024-25 roster in seven days when former Florida Atlantic standout combo guard Alijah Martin signed with UF on Monday.
Martin helped lead FAU to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Final Four in 2023. Last season, Martin averaged 13.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals .
“Alijah has had great success throughout his career at FAU, both personally and as a team,” Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said. “He played a huge role in getting FAU to the Final Four two years ago and earning another tournament appearance this past season. He has been incredibly consistent as a scorer and defender and he will add even more “explosiveness to our group.”
Last season, fueled by first-year transfer starters Micah Handlogten, Tyrese Samuel, Walter Clayton Jr. and Zyon Pullin, Florida went 24-12 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.
Golden, however, had to tap the transfer portal again this offseason to restock the roster. Pullin and Samuel are ineligible and the status of two other starters – Clayton Jr. and guard Will Richard – remains in limbo. Clayton Jr. and Richard both declared for the NBA draft with the possibility of returning to UF and have until June 16 to make their decision.
Here are the grades for UF’s transfer portal additions for 2024-25.
Alijah Martin, guard: A
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Martin will make an immediate impact on both ends of the court. A tough perimeter defender with an SEC running back build, Martin chose UF over offers from Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas and to play for his former coach at FAU ( Dusty May) in Michigan.
“I wanted to stay in the South to play in the SEC, the strongest conference in America,” said ESPN.com NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony. “I wanted the chance to become a senior ball handler and compete for a national title.”
Whether Martin can handle the rigors of being a point guard in the SEC remains to be seen (his career assist-to-turnover ratio is 170-178). But Martin, a native of Summit, Mississippi, would bring a perimeter threat to the position, similar to former UF point guards Anthony Roberson, Taurean Green and Erving Walker. Martin made 242 career 3-pointers in four seasons at FAU with a career 3-point shooting percentage of 36.9%.
Sam Alexis, forward: B
At 6-9 and 230 pounds, Alexis possesses a sturdy, ready-to-go SEC frame and is a very efficient scorer inside the arc. Last season. Alexis shot 55% from the field and 61.6% (135-219) on his two-point opportunities for Chattanooga.
Alexis is also relentless on the glass averaging 9.1 rebounds and 2.7 offensive rebounds per game. Free throw shooting (48.4%) needs work, but Alexis has shown the ability to get to the goal often (91 free throws in 2023-24).
Rueben Chinyelu, Center: B
Chinyelu – at 6-11 with a 7-8 wingspan – brings the physical tools to block and alter shots and tight passing lanes on defense. In 35 games and 12 starts at Washington State last season, Chinyelu finished with 45 blocked shots and 7 steals.
Chinyelu’s offensive game is still developing, but like Alexis, he can impact the game on the offensive boards. Of Chinyelu’s 174 rebounds last season, 66 came on the offensive glass.