Alex Condon bets on himself with Florida return

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Australian 2025 NCAA men’s champion Alex Condon has made a business decision, returning to the Florida Gators for his senior season.

Condon, 21, revealed today he would stay in school (again) in 2025-26 after the one-seed Gators were upset by Iowa in the second round of 2026 March Madness last month.

"It's not the result that we wanted at the end of the year," Condon told ESPN.

"I think we're a better team than that. So, [we] left a bit of unfinished business with the Gators.

"So to go back to school and compete – we know what it's like to win a national championship, and that's the No. 1 goal for me."

So to go back to school and compete – we know what it's like to win a national championship, and that's the No. 1 goal for me."

Coupled with that, the 2026 NBA Draft class is stacked. Condon is a projected second round pick (30), which comes with a four-year USD $11.4 contract – USD $2.4M in the first year.

The No.1 pick in the draft secures a four-year USD $47-48M deal, while the 14th pick, USD $16-17M.

Elite NCAA men’s players earn more than USD $1M through the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) program, which has led to thousands of players, including almost 60 Australians, entering the Transfer Portal.

Condon’s NIL deal has not been revealed.

The Western Australian forward/centre has opted to play more minutes, further develop his game, and declare for the 2027 draft as a first-rounder once he graduates.

"My shooting is a big thing, to get that more consistent," Condon told ESPN.

"I think I did a better job in the second half of the season, just taking the pressure off [myself], not living and dying by the 3, just playing my game and doing everything else that I do well.

"My versatility defensively, being able to switch 1 through 5, is something that I can do, and I really want to show that to NBA scouts [next season] as well.

“I want to be first-team All-SEC and in the talks for All-American. And I think the way that I closed out the season, if I'm able to be that consistent for a whole season, the sky's the limit for [my] draft stock."

Condon declared for the 2025 NBA Draft but withdrew to return to the Gators for his junior season.