Gators backcourt duo named All-SEC, Alex Condon on All-Freshman team

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida guards Zyon Pullin and Walter Clayton Jr. have been voted All-SEC and forward Alex Condon was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, the league announced on Monday. Pullin earned first-team honors, while Clayton received second-team recognition.

The group has helped lead the Gators to a 21-10 record, the team’s most wins heading into the postseason since 2016-17. Pullin and Clayton give UF multiple All-SEC guards for the first time in 11 years — last accomplished by Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario and Scottie Wilbekin in 2012-13 — and the 11th time in school history (see chart below).

Pullin’s 4.38 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks second in the nation and is on pace to set UF’s program record. Pullin also has six 20-point games and began the season with 23 straight double-figure scoring games, matching UF’s third-longest streak of the 2000s. He averaged 16.6 points per game against SEC opponents while averaging 5.0 assists and a team-high 36.3 minutes per game.

Clayton, Florida’s leading scorer, has averaged 17.0 points overall and has fared even better in league play at 18.3 points per game. Clayton has a dozen 20-point games this season, the most by a Gator since Boynton’s 13 in 2011-12. His seven 3-pointers at Kentucky led Florida to its first top-10 road win since 2003, and he hit at least three 3-pointers in 12 of UF’s 18 SEC games this season.

As a backcourt duo, Pullin and Clayton’s combined 32.7 points per game overall are the most by two Florida players since Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh’s 33.7 in 2003-04.

Condon, a 6-foot-11 Australian who came to Florida as an unranked recruit, leads all SEC freshman with 6.5 rebounds per game and 38 blocked shots in addition to his 7.5 points per game. Condon is the only Florida freshman this century to post multiple 15-rebound games and is the Gators’ first frontcourt SEC All-Freshman honoree since Patric Young in 2010-11.

This marks the second time over the past decade that the Gators have had multiple All-SEC performers and an SEC All-Freshman honoree, joining the 2019-20 trio of first-team All-SEC Keyontae Johnson, second-team All-SEC Kerry Blackshear and SEC All-Freshman Scottie Lewis.

Up next for the Gators (21-10, 11-7 SEC) is the SEC Tournament in Nashville. They are the No. 6 seed and will play Georgia or Missouri on Thursday at approx. 9:30 p.m. on SEC Network following the conclusion of the 7 p.m. game.

Multiple All-SEC guards in Florida history

2023-24 SEC Men’s Basketball Awards 

First Team
Mark Sears, Alabama
Johni Broome, Auburn
Zyon Pullin, Florida
Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
Tolu Smith III, Mississippi State
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
 
Second Team
Jaylin Williams, Auburn
Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Ta’Lon Cooper, South Carolina
Meechie Johnson, South Carolina
Jonas Aidoo, Tennessee

All-Defensive Team
Johni Broome, Auburn
Cameron Matthews, Mississippi State
Jonas Aidoo, Tennessee
Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Andersson Garcia, Texas A&M

All-Freshman Team
Aden Holloway, Auburn
Alex Condon, Florida
Silas Demary Jr., Georgia
Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
D.J. Wagner, Kentucky
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
 
Coach of the Year: Lamont Paris, South Carolina
Player of the Year: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Sean East II, Missouri
Freshman of the Year: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
Sixth-Man of the Year: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Defensive Player of the Year: Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee