A Look Back at Colin Castleton’s Florida Basketball Career

Florida Basketball center Colin Castleton was arguably one of the best big men to ever roll through Gainesville.

Castleton scored 1,165 points through three seasons in a Gators uniform, along with earning 607 total rebounds.

With Florida’s 69-68 loss in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday, Castleton’s college basketball career has officially expired.

Castleton did not have the opportunity to finish his fifth and final collegiate season as he broke his hand against Ole Miss on Feb. 15.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and review the miraculous career of Castleton.

Looking at Colin Castleton’s Florida Basketball career

The 6 foot, 11 inch forward transferred to Florida in 2020 after spending two seasons with the Michigan Wolverines.

While with the Wolverines, Castleton averaged 3.4 minutes his freshman season and 7.9 minutes his sophomore season.

With limited playing time, Castleton managed to only score 99 total points in two seasons in a Michigan uniform.

Once making the transition over to Florida, Castleton’s game took off as he got more playing time with more opportunities.

During Castleton’s first season in a Florida uniform, he dropped a total of 297 points.

Wait a minute… 99 points in two seasons with Michigan and 297 points in one season with Florida, meaning, Castleton tripled his career total with Michigan in one season with the Gators.

Yes, that is correct, Castleton managed to triple his career points in one season with Florida.

The Gators managed to get a No. 7 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament after finishing the season with a 15-10 record.

In the Round of 64, Florida squared up against the Virginia Tech Hokies who they defeated 75-70.

Castleton led the Gators in points that game, dropping 19 but he also managed to grab 14 rebounds and notch two assists.

Castleton’s first season with Florida concluded after the No. 15-seeded Golden Eagles from Oral Roberts eliminated the Gators in the second round.

Castleton managed to score 14 points in the second round loss but it was not enough to push the Gators through.

Finishing with 297 points in 2021, Castleton was named Second Team All-SEC voted by the coaches.

The following season, Castleton came back stronger, dropping 453 total points and grabbing 253 rebounds.

The 2021-22 season was difficult for the Florida team as a whole as they failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

The Gators were placed in the NIT where they lost in the second round to the Xavier Musketeers, 76-52.

Despite the Gators’ rough season, Castleton earned five awards that year.

Those are the Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, Fort Myers Tip-Off MVP, NABC All-District Second Team, Second Team All-SEC voted by the coaches, and Second Team All-SEC (AP).

Castleton’s third and final season in Gainesville was cut short as he broke his hand against Ole Miss on Feb. 15.

Prior to his injury, Castleton was averaging 16 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Heading into the game against Ole Miss when Castleton got injured, the Gators were riding with a 13-12 record.

Since the loss of Castleton, the Gators lost four games out of its remaining seven and managed to get eliminated in the second round of the 2023 SEC Tournament.

Finishing the season with a 16-16 record, Florida basketball will once again not make the big dance.

Castleton’s time in Florida may be done but it has paved the path to every college player’s dreams, the NBA.

According to the NBA Draft Room, Castleton is projected to get drafted late in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

A shaky start out of high school spiraled into a respectable collegiate career for Castleton.