Xaivian Lee commits to Florida: Four-star PG joins Gators as transfer after stellar career at Princeton

Basketball

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Image Credit: Princeton

Fresh off the program’s first national championship in 18 years, Florida Gators basketball stayed winning Wednesday. Florida earned a commitment from four-star point guard Xaivian Lee (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), one of the most coveted backcourt players in the transfer portal, filling a key position of need.

Rated as the No. 26 overall transfer by 247Sports, Lee (6-foot-4, 180 pounds) spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Princeton. He averaged 16.9 points. 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season as the Tigers’ leading scorer and floor general, shooting 44% from the field, 37% from beyond the arc and 79% from the free throw line.

Though Lee entered the transfer portal two weeks ago, he simultaneously tested the NBA Draft process. Princeton finished third in the Ivy League last season with Lee was named as a unanimous selection to the conference’s first team for the second straight year as a starter for the Tigers. He is the only player in program history to register a triple double and holds the program record for most assists in a season (165).

Lee may immediately step in for senior Walter Clayton Jr. — the only All-America first team selection in program history and Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 NCAA Tournament — as the Gators’ starting point guard for the 2025-26 season. However, he could compete with junior Denzel Aberdeen, who spent time as Clayton’s primary reserve last season, should Aberdeen remain with the team.

Guards senior Will Richard and redshirt senior Alijah Martin are similarly departing the program with their eligibility expiring, meaning Florida will need to remake its entire starting backcourt coming off its national title.

The Gators got somewhat of a late start in the portal due to their Final Four run; however, they have been heavily pursuing prospects since head coach Todd Golden and his staff returned to Gainesville, Florida, last Tuesday.

Lee similarly tested the NBA Draft waters after his sophomore season at Princeton. At the time, after returning to school, he said multiple franchises promised him that he could earn a two-way contract that would have paid him nearly $600,000 if he completed a full season