Bradley Beal (2011-2012) – Shooting Guard
Bradley Beal came to Gainesville out of St. Louis, Mo. as a highly-heralded five-star high school player, having accumulated numerous accolades — including 2011 Gatorade National Player of the Year — averaging 32.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game during his senior campaign.
The talented shooting guard only played one season with Florida, but it was quite a year as he averaged 14.8 points along with 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals and nearly a block a game. Beal won six SEC Freshman of the Week awards, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and was a First Team All-SEC selection.
He declared for the 2012 NBA Draft after the 2011-12 season in which he was selected third overall — second-highest of all-time, tied with Al Horford — by the Washington Wizards, foregoing his final three years of college eligibility.
Beal has had a superb professional career over eight years in D.C. and has continually improved his scoring production in each of the past five seasons. The 2019-2020 season was his best so far before being canceled due to COVID-19, putting together a pair of consecutive 50-point performances en route to a stratospherical 30.5 points average in 57 games, along with 4.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.2 steals per match.
Beal is still only 26 years old and is just now entering his prime, giving him a bit more headroom to maximize his potential. If his trajectory continues on its current path, he may have a legitimate argument for best Gators men’s basketball player ever.