In the 2026 NBA Draft, there seemed to be a feeling that if Florida star Thomas Haugh decided to go in the draft, he could have been a potential lottery pick. Instead of doing so, he decided to return to the Gators, a decision that really doesn't come as much of a surprise anymore in this NIL era.
With players getting paid more than ever, guys understand they can go back to college and get a pretty penny while still waiting for the NBA. For a guy like Haugh, there were plenty of reasons to return to Florida.
One of them, however, might not have been to increase his draft stock. Bleacher Report recently predicted that he'd end up going 21st overall to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2027 NBA Draft, adding that his age will be a talking point.
“For Thomas Haugh, a big NIL offer and chance to win a second national championship apparently outweighed the potential to go in the top 20 in 2026. Even if he looks like the same player, lottery teams figure to remain interested in a 6'9" combo forward who's productive from three, explosive above the rim and brings sound passing IQ. Teams will value his easy fit and archetype over the potential upside.
“Age figures to become a talking point, considering he'll turn 24 years right after the 2027 draft. Still, we just saw the Golden State Warriors take Yaxel Lendeborg No. 11 after Michigan's title, and the certainty/translatability of Haugh's game could lead to similar viewpoints from NBA teams,” BR wrote.
In this era of college basketball and the NBA Draft changing because of it, I'm unsure whether Haugh will really have to worry too much about his age.
Obviously, teams might take the 18-year-old freshman who has more upside than him just because of that age difference, but once we start falling into the five-to-10-plus range, I can really see anything going anywhere. A lot of this will be determined by how he plays next season.
If he's the best player in college basketball and helps Florida win a national title, teams will be willing to look past that with no problem at all.
His talent is completely undeniable, which NBA teams are always searching for. Whether he's a bit older than the next guy probably won't hurt too much outside of going within the first few picks.
