Todd Golden eyes keeping Colin Castleton for one more year
The Florida Gators men’s basketball team had seven total seniors and graduate transfers on the roster in the 2021-22 season, including forward Colin Castleton.
The big question with those seven players is whether they’ll stay at the University of Florida following the departure of head coach Mike White.
Brandon McKissic and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. are on their way out as they’ve used all of their eligibility. Senior guard Tyree Appleby has already announced that he is entering the transfer portal. His name was officially in the portal as of Monday afternoon.
Florida forward Anthony Duruji announced on Twitter on Friday that he’s hiring an agent and entering the 2022 NBA Draft. He can still come back to Florida if the draft doesn’t pan out.
The big question is what will happen with Castleton. Right now, Florida’s 2022-23 season roster includes fifth-year players including Castleton and guard Myreon Jones.
Castleton, an All-SEC second-team forward, tested the NBA Draft waters following the 2020-21 season. Ultimately, he chose to return to Florida.
The 6-foot-11 big man took his game to a new level by leading the team with 16.2 points per game, nine rebounds per game, and 2.2 blocks per game.
With that, first year UF head coach Todd Golden has been keen on keeping Castleton in Gainesville for his final year of eligibility.
Golden wants Castleton back in Gainesville
“Colin’s a guy that I’ve spent a lot of time with. (We’re) trying to work to see if he has the desire to come back and use his extra year,” Golden told Gators Online and others.
Golden said he has a selling point to reel Castleton to come back to Gainesville after his NCAA Tournament appearance with San Francisco where USF point guard Jamaree Bouyea scored 36 points in a losing effort against seven-seed Murray State.
“The great thing is I have a great test case for him from my time at San Francisco because my point guard, this past year, was a guy that took advantage,” Golden said. “He used his fifth COVID year, ended up having 36 points in the first game of the NCAA Tournament, and will get drafted now. So, it’s something that I can just really easily explain to Colin. And paint a picture of, and he was intrigued by it, so I’m hopeful that those conversations go the right way. And regardless, I want what’s best for him.”
Golden said he would welcome Castleton’s return, but he wants what’s best for both parties.
“I think it would give us a little bit of a jump start and getting back moving in the right way. I’ll work hard seeing what he wants to do,” Golden said. “But again, you know, being in a new program, it has to work for both sides. He’s gotta be comfortable. He’s gotta be excited about it. I’ve just been really impressed with him so far in regards to his intelligence and type of kid he is.”
