Castleton averaged 3.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and just under eight minutes over his 25 games at Michigan during the '19-20 season.
How Colin Castleton Fits In
Friday, May 1, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — College coaches build their teams by recruiting and signing with the long term in mind. Yes, there are instant impact guys, but programs rely on players who not only develop, but also enhance the culture.
Along the way, however, plans change. Always.
This time last year, before Kerry Blackshear Jr. was even in the equation, Florida coach Mike White and his staff figured they'd have a couple fifth-year big me in Gorjok Gak and Dontay Bassett to lean, be it in lead or cameo roles, by the time the 2020-21 season rolled around. Then came injuries, frustration with minutes and the transfer portal for both.
Gak is headed to California Baptist, which will be a first-year Division-I program this season, and Bassett to Weber State. Blackshear's eligibility, of course, is done. So, as of two days ago, the Gators had just two so-called "bigs" — 6-foot-10 Omar Payne and 6-11 Jason Jitoboh, both coming off role-playing freshman seasons — on the roster. That was it.
From five "5s" to start last season to just two heading toward the next one.
Make it three with the addition of 6-11, 235-pound center/forward Colin Castleton, whose transfer from Michigan became official Thursday. Per NCAA rules, Castleton will have to sit out the '20-21 season, unless some sort of petition potential for a waiver is in the offing.
[Note: The signing of Castleton puts the Gators one over the scholarship limit of 13, meaning either — or both — sophomore point guard Andrew Nembhard, who has started every game the last two seasons, or combo guard Tre Mann, the former McDonald's All American and reserve this past season as a freshman, won't be back after entering the NBA's underclassmen draft process.]
Castleton was Florida's Class 7A Player of the Year in 2018 after averaging 24.5 points and 11.7 rebounds at Daytona Beach Father Lopez. He had some recruiting interest from the Gators, but eventually signed with then-Coach John Beilein and the Wolverines. He has good length, decent athleticism and can run the floor well. Offensively, he's got some touch around the rim and away from it did his job with regard to setting screens and being in proper position when it comes to rebounding. He played sparingly the last two seasons, occasionally spelling 7-1, 265-pound sequoia Jon Teske and logging 44 games of experience at one of the top programs in the country. Castleton averaged 3.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and just under eight minutes over his 25 games in '19-20. Those aren't eye-popping numbers (they actually shrink to 1.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 5.4 mpg in Big Ten Conference play), but they were good enough for two outstanding programs — Dayton and Maryland — to be the other two finalists for his transfer services.
Plus, it's not like Payne or Jitoboh were stuffing the stat lines last year, either. Again, this is about development and projection.
Payne had some really good games, none better than the 19-point, 11-rebound, 9-for-9 from-the-floor masterpiece in UF's 22-point blowout of No. 4 Auburn in January. What so many hoped would be a breakout performance, however, did not carry over. Payne remained inconsistent with his effort and defense (it's like that with freshmen, sometimes), with both of those elements exposed against Kentucky's Nick Richards (while Blackshear was sidelined by a hand injury) in what turned out to be the final game of the season. Payne ended up averaging 3.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.1 minutes per game. Right now, he is the odd-son heir to the "5" spot, but he's got a lot of improving, maturing and developing to do during a time when he doesn't have the UF support system at his disposal.
And then there's Jitoboh.
Under the watchful eye of Preston Greene and the conditioning staff, Jitoboh streamlined from 330 pounds to around 290. When he signed in April of '19, it was almost a foregone conclusion Jitoboh would redshirt, but he worked himself into the rotation. He averaged 1.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 6.0 minutes. The staff has their collective fingers crossed that Jitoboh currently is training, keeping himself in shape and will be ready to return and build on the progress of his rookie season.
After those two the rest of the Gators' front court features first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection Keyontae Johnson, the team's best all-around player last season, plus the additions of 6-7 Anthony Duruji, a terrific athlete who sat out '19-20 after transferring from Louisiana Tech, and incoming 6-8 forward Osayi Osifo, a top-five national junior-college prospect.
Assuming Castleton sits out the upcoming season, he'll have a year to be woven into the system and culture, and work himself into a sturdier, more confident version of himself when it's time to hit the floor for real.
In the outside chance there's a waiver in his future, well, competition in practice is always a good thing. In this case, hopefully it will bring out the absolute best in Payne and Jitoboh, which would leave the Gators with decent and athletic depth — albeit youthful and mostly inexperienced — in the post.
Along the way, however, plans change. Always.
This time last year, before Kerry Blackshear Jr. was even in the equation, Florida coach Mike White and his staff figured they'd have a couple fifth-year big me in Gorjok Gak and Dontay Bassett to lean, be it in lead or cameo roles, by the time the 2020-21 season rolled around. Then came injuries, frustration with minutes and the transfer portal for both.
Gak is headed to California Baptist, which will be a first-year Division-I program this season, and Bassett to Weber State. Blackshear's eligibility, of course, is done. So, as of two days ago, the Gators had just two so-called "bigs" — 6-foot-10 Omar Payne and 6-11 Jason Jitoboh, both coming off role-playing freshman seasons — on the roster. That was it.
From five "5s" to start last season to just two heading toward the next one.
Make it three with the addition of 6-11, 235-pound center/forward Colin Castleton, whose transfer from Michigan became official Thursday. Per NCAA rules, Castleton will have to sit out the '20-21 season, unless some sort of petition potential for a waiver is in the offing.
[Note: The signing of Castleton puts the Gators one over the scholarship limit of 13, meaning either — or both — sophomore point guard Andrew Nembhard, who has started every game the last two seasons, or combo guard Tre Mann, the former McDonald's All American and reserve this past season as a freshman, won't be back after entering the NBA's underclassmen draft process.]
Castleton was Florida's Class 7A Player of the Year in 2018 after averaging 24.5 points and 11.7 rebounds at Daytona Beach Father Lopez. He had some recruiting interest from the Gators, but eventually signed with then-Coach John Beilein and the Wolverines. He has good length, decent athleticism and can run the floor well. Offensively, he's got some touch around the rim and away from it did his job with regard to setting screens and being in proper position when it comes to rebounding. He played sparingly the last two seasons, occasionally spelling 7-1, 265-pound sequoia Jon Teske and logging 44 games of experience at one of the top programs in the country. Castleton averaged 3.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and just under eight minutes over his 25 games in '19-20. Those aren't eye-popping numbers (they actually shrink to 1.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 5.4 mpg in Big Ten Conference play), but they were good enough for two outstanding programs — Dayton and Maryland — to be the other two finalists for his transfer services.
Plus, it's not like Payne or Jitoboh were stuffing the stat lines last year, either. Again, this is about development and projection.
Welcome to the @GatorsMBK family, @Castleton_! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/R28dg4nl8g
— Michael White (@MikeWhiteUF) April 30, 2020
Payne had some really good games, none better than the 19-point, 11-rebound, 9-for-9 from-the-floor masterpiece in UF's 22-point blowout of No. 4 Auburn in January. What so many hoped would be a breakout performance, however, did not carry over. Payne remained inconsistent with his effort and defense (it's like that with freshmen, sometimes), with both of those elements exposed against Kentucky's Nick Richards (while Blackshear was sidelined by a hand injury) in what turned out to be the final game of the season. Payne ended up averaging 3.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.1 minutes per game. Right now, he is the odd-son heir to the "5" spot, but he's got a lot of improving, maturing and developing to do during a time when he doesn't have the UF support system at his disposal.
And then there's Jitoboh.
Under the watchful eye of Preston Greene and the conditioning staff, Jitoboh streamlined from 330 pounds to around 290. When he signed in April of '19, it was almost a foregone conclusion Jitoboh would redshirt, but he worked himself into the rotation. He averaged 1.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 6.0 minutes. The staff has their collective fingers crossed that Jitoboh currently is training, keeping himself in shape and will be ready to return and build on the progress of his rookie season.
After those two the rest of the Gators' front court features first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection Keyontae Johnson, the team's best all-around player last season, plus the additions of 6-7 Anthony Duruji, a terrific athlete who sat out '19-20 after transferring from Louisiana Tech, and incoming 6-8 forward Osayi Osifo, a top-five national junior-college prospect.
Assuming Castleton sits out the upcoming season, he'll have a year to be woven into the system and culture, and work himself into a sturdier, more confident version of himself when it's time to hit the floor for real.
In the outside chance there's a waiver in his future, well, competition in practice is always a good thing. In this case, hopefully it will bring out the absolute best in Payne and Jitoboh, which would leave the Gators with decent and athletic depth — albeit youthful and mostly inexperienced — in the post.
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