When [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] transferred to the University of Florida, he probably didn’t expect to stick around long enough to amass 1,000 points in a Gators uniform. But UF’s big man crossed that threshold and added his name to the record books on Saturday as he led UF to a 73-64 win over No. 20 Missouri.
Castleton needed just 11 points to hit the mark coming into the Mizzou game and finished Saturday’s contest with 16 points and 13 rebounds. In addition to securing his third double-double of the season, Castleton brought his scoring total in an orange and blue uniform to 1,005.
He is Florida’s 55th 1,000-point scorer and the first to join the club since [autotag]Chris Chiozza[/autotag] did it in 2018. Castleton, of course, didn’t transfer from Michigan until 2020, but he immediately became a threat in the SEC and has been Florida’s unquestioned leader for the past two seasons.
There was talk of Castleton going pro this offseason, but [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] and the Gator Collective convinced him to return for one final year. He opened the season up on a scoring tear, averaging over 25 points per game through the first four contests. That average has since dropped to 15.0, but he has helped distribute the ball well and joined the top-10 all-time list for blocks at Florida as well.
It will take a strong finish to the 2022-23 season for him to break into the top 10 (Gene Shy, 1,573). At his current pace, Castleton should finish the regular season with around 1,200 points. He could play another four games if Florida makes a run in the SEC Tournament, and a national championship would require six NCAA Tournament wins. However, Castleton would have to up his scoring average to break the top 10.
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