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Since arriving on campus in August, freshman guard Riley Kugel has seen varying references to his size, including one on the official Florida athletics website that put him at 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds. He knows better.
“I don’t like that,” Kugel said Tuesday, with a smile.
That’s because Kugel, in addition to busting his backside during UF workouts and practices, has been busting it in the weight room for nearly two months, the combination of which has brought about an array of moments in which Kugel — now a solid and sturdy 207 pounds — has busted moves on just about every one of his upperclassmen teammates at one point or another during live scrimmage sessions.
Acrobatic and high-flying dunks. Driving finishes in traffic. Playing the passing lanes. Attacks and kick-outs. Three-pointers. Kugel has done a little bit of everything — sometimes in oh-wow fashion — and because of it looks like a lock to be part of Todd Golden‘s nine- or 10-man rotation when the Gators tip off the 2022-23 season under their new coach Nov. 7 against Stony Brook at Exactech Arena.
“He’s what I call an SEC athlete,” associate head coach Korey McCray said.
That Kugel, despite not officially enrolling until the start of the fall semester, has performed his way into a crowded and mix on the wing speaks to the work he’s put forth in a much shorter time than his teammates. It’s also a reflection of his all-around talent and a skill set.
“He didn’t have a summer with us, which was a big concern because we think we’re pretty complicated in what we do, but it hasn’t seemed to affect him much,” Golden said this week. “He came in with a great attitude. He knew he was behind. He didn’t feel sorry for himself. He just kept bringing it every day.”
To read the full article visit: www.floridagators.com
