On Thursday night during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, Florida’s Alijah Martin and Will Richard were both selected, with Martin going 39th to the Toronto Raptors and Richard 56th to the Golden State Warriors (via a trade with Memphis).
They join Walter Clayton Jr., who was drafted 18th overall by the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, as a trio of Gators who are NBA-bound. Clayton was the first Gators player drafted in the first round since Tre Mann was selected 18th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021.
Clayton, Martin and Richard were the highest-scoring trio in Florida history last season on the way to leading the Gators to their third national title.
It marked just the second time in program history that Florida had three or more players selected in the same draft and the first time since 2007.
A school record five players were picked in the 2007 NBA Draft, led by first-round selections Al Horford (3rd/Hawks), Corey Brewer (7th/Timberwolves) and Joakim Noah (9th/Bulls). Chris Richard (41st/Timberwolves) and Taurean Green (52nd/Trail Blazers) were selected in the second round that year.
Martin, who was head coach Todd Golden’s first commit in 2022, averaged a career-high 14.4 points per game.
The Summit, Mississippi native, who hit the go-ahead free throws in the national championship game with 46.5 seconds left, became the first Gator to be drafted by the Raptors.
“Just a bunch of emotions right now, just excited, nervous,” Martin said on ESPN from Barclays Center after his selection. “Ready to get to the next level and show what I can do.”
Asked what he learned through Florida’s success last season, Martin said, “How important team chemistry is. I feel like that translates at the next level, and we do a good job with that.”
A member of Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four team, Martin became the first player to start in a Final Four for two different teams. He totaled 2,022 points,786 rebounds, 321 3-point field goals, 253 assists and 211 steals over his five collegiate seasons.
Richard, from Fairburn, Georgia, became the 40th Gator drafted all-time and the second to be selected by Golden State (Andrew DeClercq, 1995, 34th).
He led the Gators with 18 points and eight rebounds in the national championship game.
Richard, who graduated from UF this past Spring with a degree in Sport Management and ranks 33rd on Florida’s all-time scoring list, tallied 1,275 points, 470 rebounds, 201 3-point field goals, 148 assists, 129 steals in 108 appearances with 105 starts over his three seasons at Florida. He came up big in critical moments, earning SEC Tournament and Final Four All-Tournament Team honors in 2025.
Multiple Gators Selected in the NBA Draft
2025 – Walter Clayton Jr. (18th/Jazz), Alijah Martin (39th/Raptors), Will Richard (56th/Warriors)
2021 – Tre Mann (18th/Thunder), Scottie Lewis (56th/Hornets)
2011 – Chandler Parsons (38th/Rockets), Vernon Macklin (52nd/Pistons)
2007 – Al Horford (3rd/Hawks), Corey Brewer (7th/Timberwolves), Joakim Noah (9th/Bulls), Chris Richard (41st/Timberwolves), Taurean Green (52nd/Trail Blazers)
2000 – Mike Miller (5th/Magic), Donnell Harvey (22nd/Knicks)
1984 – Ronnie Williams (48th/Celtics), Vernon Delancy (67th/Bucks)