After an uber-productive three seasons as the face of the Florida Gators program, center Colin Castleton jumped to the NBA with hopes of hearing his name called in the 2023 draft.
Despite buzz surrounding a potential late second round slot, the Gators star was on the outside looking in at the 58 picks made on Thursday night.
However, immediately following the draft’s conclusion, Castleton agreed to a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
As a former top-100 recruit out of Father Lopez Catholic (DeLand, Fla.), Castleton began his collegiate career at Michigan, where he spent two years in a rotational role under Juwan Howard's tutelage. However, failing to break through the glass ceiling in a crowded frontcourt at the time, Castleton entered the transfer portal following the 2019-20 season.
The Deland native elected to return to his home state to fulfill the eligibility he had left with the Gators.
In his first two years, Castleton performed as a highly-skilled post player on the offensive end with a well-polished arsenal of moves down low. He averaged 14.3 points during that stretch while pulling down 7.7 boards per game.
Those two successful campaigns resulted in his entry into the NBA Draft pool following the 2021-22 season, although he maintained his eligibility.
Uncertainty in the UF program clouded his decision initially as the Gators underwent immense changes as head coach Mike White — who he committed to following his portal entry — jumped ship to Georgia after seven seasons at the helm in Gainesville.
However, when Todd Golden assumed the reins in March 2022, he made clear that his top priority was to bring Castleton back to the team following his test of the NBA waters. He articulated that fact to the big man, sharing his intentions to feature him in the lineup as the bridge piece for the program he looked to tear down and rebuild.
Castleton bought in.
The choice to return proved fruitful as he took a drastic step forward in multiple facets, particularly on the defensive end as a rim protector and a facilitator from the high post.
He accounted for 16 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and three blocks in 26 games as a fifth-year senior, which ended prematurely due to a broken hand he suffered against Ole Miss on Feb. 15.
The multi-faceted talents he showcased, paired with an impressive pre-draft process for the 6-foot-11 center, drew considerable interest from several NBA franchises. He forced his way into second-round projections in the weeks leading up to selection day, and despite not earning a selection, Castelton was one of the first undrafted free agents to agree to a deal.
Castleton will likely take on a role in relief of forward Anthony Davis for the Lakers — assuming he makes the roster — as he settles into his niche at the NBA level without the high-usage rate he is accustomed to.
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