Men’s Basketball: Three FAU alumni get drafted and signed to NBA teams
From Boca Raton to the big leagues, the Florida Atlantic men’s basketball program made history with not one, not two, but three players earning spots in the 2025 NBA Draft class.
Former FAU stars Johnell Davis, Alijah Martin, and Vladislav Goldin either heard their names called or signed with NBA teams on Wednesday, June 25, becoming the first players in program history to make it to the league.
While none of the three finished their college careers at FAU, their journey to the pros was fueled by the national spotlight FAU earned during its historic Final Four run in 2023, the first in school history.
“With the 39th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select: Alijah Martin from the University of Florida,” says NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
That infamous introduction to another draft pick chimed in on televisions across the country, and Martin was then crowned the first FAU alumnus to be drafted into the NBA.
While at FAU, Martin helped lead the Owls to a regular season and conference championship, two back-to-back March Madness appearances, and one Final Four appearance. Martin averaged 11.9 points, five rebounds per game, and a 43.8% field goal percentage in his four seasons with the Owls.
After the 2023–24 season, Martin transferred to the University of Florida, where he capped off his college career by winning this year’s national championship. While he did not hear his name called on draft night, the Miami Heat signed Vlad Goldin.
Goldin, too, was a member of the Final Four team and later transferred to the University of Michigan along with former FAU men’s basketball head coach Dusty May after the 2023-24 season. Goldin averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and a 62% field goal percentage in his three seasons with the Owls.
Lastly, Davis was signed to the Orlando Magic’s Summer League team.
Like his two former teammates, Davis was a member of the Final Four team before transferring to the University of Arkansas to play out his last year of eligibility. Davis averaged 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and a 48% field goal percentage in his four seasons with the Owls.
Though Davis, Martin and Goldin have moved on from FAU, their legacy remains. They didn’t just make history, they built it.
Angelina Martell is the Sports Editor for the University Press. Email her at amartell2023@fau.edu or contact her on Instagram @angieemartell for information regarding this or other stories.
Latest University Press
- DeSantis makes surprise visit to FAU, launches new higher ed accreditorFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that six state public university systems, including Florida, will launch a new accrediting body called the Commission for Public Higher Education to end “woke accreditation cartels” that certify educational institutions. DeSantis made the announcement during a press conference at Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus. In addition to Florida,...
- Gallery: Protest erupts during BOG meeting at FAUFlorida Atlantic University hosted the Florida State University System Board of Governors meeting on June 18. A protest by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University supporters turned the meeting into a public outcry over Marva Johnson’s presidential confirmation.
- FAMU community decries Marva Johnson’s appointment as president at FAU campusDozens of protesters descended on Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus Wednesday to express their distaste over the confirmation of a president at a campus more than 400 miles away. Some Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University community members are unhappy with Marva Johnson, who the Florida State University System Board of Governors confirmed at the...
- Voices of valor: FAU honors women veterans in event of remembranceTucker Bileau attended the National Women Veterans Recognition Day event on Thursday, not only as a student at Florida Atlantic University but also as a United States Marine Corps veteran, to honor all the women who put their lives on the line to serve their country. “I do feel that women are very underrepresented in...
- Goodbye Diversity Way: FAU renames walkway ‘Opportunity Way’Florida Atlantic University proudly marks itself as one of the most diverse public universities in the state. Yet, officials renamed the 15-year-old Diversity Way walkway – once a symbol of that pride – to Opportunity Way. At the FAU Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, the board approved the new name for the walkway between...
- Column: How a UP editor’s journey to Israel changed her worldviewWhat was originally a ten-day geopolitical trip to Israel unexpectedly turned into a two-week self-discovery journey to step out of my comfort zone as a college student. A study from the University of California shows that students who go abroad are more likely to be open-minded, emotionally stable and diligent when they return. As an...