AUSTIN, Texas – Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh made history on Wednesday, becoming the program’s 59th member to join the exclusive 1,000-point club. He achieved this milestone with a spectacular alley-oop assist from teammate Micah Handlogten, marking a significant moment with 15:02 remaining in the first half against Texas.
This achievement follows closely behind fellow forward Alex Condon, who joined the club on February 17 after scoring his 15th point midway through the second half of a game. In addition to Haugh and Condon, center Rueben Chinyelu recently set the program record for single-season offensive rebounds, showcasing an impressive collective performance from the team.
Fans and teammates celebrated Haugh’s accomplishment, exemplified by the enthusiastic post from Florida Gators Men’s Basketball on social media, “go ahead and add Tommy to the 1K CLUB 😤”.
Haugh is currently enjoying a standout season, averaging a career-high 17.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He has emerged as a versatile scorer, ranking second on the team in 3-point shooting at 34.7% and leading in free throws made (113) and attempts (151). His skills have not gone unnoticed, as he has been nominated for the Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Late-Season Team.
Head coach Todd Golden praised Haugh’s development, noting, “He has obviously been a great Gator and will continue to be. It speaks a lot to his improvement as a player… He’s been a great player, a great guy and a great example of what we want our program to be.” Haugh’s journey from averaging just four points per game as a freshman to becoming a leader is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
Haugh’s contributions are pivotal as the Gators aim for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Following a challenging start to the season with a 5-4 record, Florida has turned its trajectory around and currently ranks as the top team in the SEC standings and 7th in the AP Poll, boasting an impressive 21-6 record. The NCAA Tournament Committee has projected them as a three seed in their first bracket preview.
Coach Golden expressed optimism about the team’s goals: “Our goals at the moment are to take care of business day by day to win the league and then work to achieve the highest seed possible for March.” As they lead Texas, 39-36, at halftime, the Gators are seeking their eighth consecutive victory, including seven straight wins on the road.