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The Gators men’s basketball team scored big Wednesday night when it landed Princeton point guard Xaivian Lee in the transfer portal just over a week after winning the NCAA National Championship. The junior from Toronto will help fill Florida’s backcourt next season, as it will be missing Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin.
BREAKING: Princeton transfer G Xaivian Lee has committed to Florida
HUGE GET FOR TODD
NATTY SZN STARTS NOW pic.twitter.com/Ru3gEwyoPI
— Florida Gators (@gatorsszn) April 16, 2025
Time at Princeton
Similar to many on Florida’s roster, Lee was a zero-star recruit out of high school, per 247 Sports. However, he showed his talents in each of his three years at Princeton.
Statistically, his sophomore year was his strongest, as he had a 45.1% field goal percentage and averaged 17.1 points per game. In his junior campaign, he shot 43.9% from the floor and put up 16.9 PPG. Lee has shot 33.4% from beyond the arc and 79.6% from the free-throw line in his college career. He was also the first player from Princeton to ever score a triple-double, which he achieved in December.
The Tigers’ season ended in a 19-11 record in the 2025 Ivy League Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals.
Lee is a two-time All-Ivy League First Team selection in addition to making the Ivy Madness All-Tournament Team this year. He was also a Lou Henson Mid Major National Player of the Year Award finalist in his sophomore season.
From Portal to Committed
After announcing his decision to leave Princeton in early April, 247 Sports named Lee a four-star transfer. As one of the top point guards available, he visited St. John’s and Kansas in the days before coming to Gainesville.
On his visit, he was greeted by a familiar face. Florida forward Thomas Haugh officially gets to play with Lee again, as the two were high school teammates at Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.
— Thomas Haugh (@ThomasHaugh4) April 17, 2025
Lee will likely join Denzel Aberdeen as a starter in the backcourt now that the “Big Three” are out of NCAA eligibility. His contribution will be crucial in the Gators’ attempt for back-to-back national titles, as they did in 2006 and 2007.
