Dick Vitale gives Florida forward Thomas Haugh a major preseason honor
· Yahoo Sports
Florida basketball forward Thomas Haugh has earned first-team recognition on Dick Vitale's preseason All-Rolls-Royce list.
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Vitale identifies the senior as one of the strongest candidates for national player of the year coming into the 2026-27 season. The 6-foot-9-inch, 215-pound frontcourt star from New Oxford, Pennsylvania, averaged 17 points and six rebounds last season to go along with a pair of assists and one block per game.
Haugh is lauded by experts for his versatility as a scorer, reliable three-point shooter and defensive presence. Vitale highlights the veteran's ability to impact multiple facets of the game.
"Haugh is the Swiss Army knife for a Florida team that will make noise all season. He can score inside, stretch defenses, rebound, defend multiple positions -- and he consistently delivers winning plays," Vitale explained.
His emergence as a national superstar coincides with Florida's championship aspirations for the upcoming season.
"The Gators need a star and Haugh answers every challenge," Vitale added. Todd Golden's team enters the campaign with arguably the highest expectations in the country, landing at No. 1 in several major preseason rankings.
Vitale's list includes four other players: guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State), guard Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt), forward Flory Bidunga (Louisville), and guard Robert Wright III (BYU). Tanner and Haugh are the SEC's two representatives on the first team — forwards Amari Allen (Alabama) and Milan Momcilovic (Kentucky) landed on the third team.
Florida basketball's season begins Nov. 2 against the Miami Hurricanes in the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic held in Tampa.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Dick Vitale gives Florida forward Thomas Haugh a major preseason honor