Vernon Maxwell reflects on UF career: ‘I was the best thing since sliced bread’
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — His records have been restored, his legacy has been revived and his relationship with the University of Florida has been rekindled. And this week, Vernon Maxwell is coming home.
Maxwell, UF’s all-time leader in points (2,450) and steals (206), had his last two seasons reinstated by UF on Thursday. His stats were stripped after he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for having an agent.
That, of course, is no longer against NCAA rules. The Gators officially informed Maxwell on Tuesday that his 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons were going back in the school record books.
“It was a lot of emotion. I fell on the floor. I couldn’t believe it,” Maxwell said Thursday during his interview with Steve Russell on WRUF. “It just means a lot to the Maxwell family. Just for my mom, she’s 82 years old now. Just to have her be able to see what I’ve done at the University of Florida get reinstated, that means a lot to me. I’m so blessed for that.”
Maxwell, a two-time, first-team All-SEC selection, is now the No. 3 all-time leading scorer in conference history. With his junior and senior seasons restored, he now holds eight UF records and ranks in the top five in 15 statistical categories (top 10 in 21 categories).
His 738 points over 33 games during ’86-87 is back at No. 1 on the single-season scoring list, eclipsing the 714 scored by Walter Clayton Jr. in 40 games last season. Maxwell also owns Florida’s career and single-season marks for field goals and attempts.
What are Maxwell’s memories of playing for the Gators?
“Just me being a killer, like I was. I’ve been a killer all my life. So, just me being a killer,” Maxwell said. “When I played basketball, I thought I was the best thing since sliced bread. Ain’t nobody could stop me. And my teammates. My teammates shared a good part in everything.
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“All these points and these steals and all the other stuff that I did, my teammates were so instrumental to everything that I did over at the University of Florida. It means so much to me, so I gotta show them homage because if it wasn’t for them, it’s no Vernon.”
Maxwell also thanked UF coach Todd Golden and athletic director Scott Stricklin for backing his reinstatement, along with some of his supporters. Maxwell will be back in Gainesville on Friday to attend the inaugural Florida Gators men’s basketball reunion.
“I know a lot of people had my back at the University of Florida and was trying to make this thing happen for me like Bill Koss and (William) Feinberg. And we got a new regime over there too now. We got the new head coach,” Maxwell said, “and it’s a new athletic director.
“This weekend, it’s all about me showing homage to the athletic director, to the head coach, my guy, and the University of Florida. I’m so blessed just to be able to come back. I haven’t been on the campus in a long time, so it’s just a blessing for me to think about the orange and blue. I’m back home now again.”
