Perhaps no player in the SEC was a bigger surprise last season than center Colin Castleton. A transfer from Michigan who saw only sporadic action in his first two seasons with the Wolverines, he started 21 of the 24 games he appeared in with the Gators last season and had a breakout effort.
He averaged 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds (a team-high) and he was named a Second Team All-SEC selection by the coaches. He enters this season with even higher expectations after declaring for the draft to get advice and ultimately withdrawing and returning to Florida.
Castleton was named to the preseason First Team All-SEC list, and he’s also the No. 72 player in college basketball heading into the season, according to CBS Sports.
Castleton stands out as one of the biggest surprises of last season after transferring in from Michigan, where he barely played, and becoming a dominant force in the SEC. He is the league’s leading returner in blocks per game (2.3) and Florida’s leading returning scorer after averaging 12.4 points on 59.7% shooting.
He had a good start to the season in the exhibition game against Embry-Riddle on Monday night, nearly totaling a double-double on 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds. He was five of eight on free throws, but he shot just two of nine from the field, and his offensive game will need to be much more consistent moving forward.
Still, Castleton is a great defensive big who can make a difference on the boards. If he can put it all together this year, he has the potential to be one of the nation’s best bigs.
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