Florida forward Thomas Haugh will return to the Gators for his senior season, passing on the NBA draft despite being projected as a potential lottery pick. The 6-foot-9 forward, ranked No. 13 in ESPN's 2026 draft projections, becomes the highest-ranked prospect to announce his return to college since Michigan State's Miles Bridges in 2017.

Haugh's decision follows similar announcements from frontcourt teammates Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, positioning Florida as the likely preseason No. 1 team in men's college basketball. The Pennsylvania native earned third-team All-America honors last season, averaging 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. His projected NBA draft position in the 11-15 range would have guaranteed approximately $4.3 million in Year 1 salary.

Financial considerations played a role, with Haugh set to earn revenue share compensation comparable to mid-first-round picks plus lucrative NIL deals. Florida coach Todd Golden emphasized that Haugh's NIL value at Florida is 10-20 times higher than it would be on an NBA team. The decision allows Haugh to improve his game, particularly his 3-point shooting and small forward skills, while competing for another national championship with teammates he considers family.