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Florida Basketball 2022-23 Season Preview: F Colin Castleton

By Matt Melton

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 05: Colin Castleton #12 of the Florida Gators looks on during the second half of a game against the Mississippi Rebels at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on February 05, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 05: Colin Castleton #12 of the Florida Gators looks on during the second half of a game against the Mississippi Rebels at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on February 05, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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As the 2022-23 Florida Basketball season draws near, the Gators will once again have one of the SEC’s top two-way frontcourt players on their roster entering the year in fifth-year senior forward Colin Castleton. A player who is likely set for yet another All-SEC selection this year, what does the 2022-23 season potentially have in store for the star Gators forward?

Florida Basketball 2022-23 Season Preview: F Colin Castleton

After transferring from Michigan to Florida prior to the 2020-21 season, Castleton, a former four-star in-state prospect, would enjoy a breakout campaign during his first season with the Gators, averaging 12.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 2.3 BPG.

Earning Second Team All-SEC honors that year, Castleton would take an even bigger jump in production a year ago as a senior, averaging 16.2 PPG, 9 RPG, and 2.2 BPG to earn Second Team All-SEC honors once again. Of those numbers, Castleton would rank eighth in the SEC in PPG, third in RPG, and second in BPG, as well as fourth in the conference with a 54.6 FG%.

Looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, it is clear that Castleton, a 6-foot-11 forward, will be one of the SEC’s top frontcourt players once again. The fifth-year senior is likely to lead Florida Basketball in scoring, rebounds, and blocks, and should rank Top 10 in the conference in all three at-the-least, if not lead in a few.

A player who could very easily be in the NBA at the moment, Castleton is simply going to be a massive piece for the Gators and new head coach Todd Golden in 2022-23, one who will likely start in each game he plays once again this year. Not only is the 6-foot-11 forward a player who can essentially do it all on both ends of the floor, but Castleton is also very experienced within the SEC, something that will only benefit both him and the Gators.

Having averaged a combined 14.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 2.2 BPG on 56.5% shooting across the last two seasons in Gainesville at well, it feels likely that All-SEC honors are in store for Castleton once again this season, assuming he posts a stat line similar to either of the last two years.

Next. Kentucky, LSU rise in Week 4 SEC power rankings. dark

2022-23 Season Prediction: 16 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 57.5 FG%, 74.5 FT%

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