With Castleton Returning, What Questions Does Todd Golden Still Need to Answer?

Colin Castleton announced on Monday morning that he would be returning to Gainesville for another year with the Florida Gators. This fills a big hole for Todd Golden and his new staff, as they now have a veteran presence in the paint to help facilitate the court. Even with the return of Castleton, as well as some young talent coming back, there are still a few holes on the roster that Coach Golden will need to address before the season.

Backcourt Questions & Potential Additions

Right now, the biggest question mark for the Gators is at point guard. With Tyree Appleby transferring for his final year of eligibility, there is a need for a true point guard to lead the team. The guards currently on the roster for Florida are Niels Lane, Will Richard, Myreon Jones, Elijah Kennedy, Denzel Aberdeen, and Alek Klatsky.

Will Richard is the best overall player on that list, and guys like Elijah Kennedy and Denzel Aberdeen are talented but lack the experience to be effective and consistent.

Niels Lane is another talented young player for the Gators, but he is much more of a defensive presence than a guy who could run the offense.

It’s likely that Golden will have to dip into the transfer portal again to grab another guard. The best overall option would be Kendrick Davis from SMU. He’s an elite talent who scored 19.4 points per game last year and shot just shy of 44% from the field.

Obviously, landing Davis is a dream scenario for the Gators, and isn’t something Florida should count on. Another option to add to the roster would be Georgia transfer, Kario Oquendo. Oquendo is an electric player who handles the ball well and is strong at the rim. Here’s one of his top plays from last year coming against Tennessee:

Oquendo did also tease at some interest in the Gators with a tweet he sent out on Friday, as well as some other schools he’s looking at.

The third option at guard for the Gators is Terry Roberts. Roberts, a transfer from Bradley, visited the Gators this past weekend and has established himself as a talented, all-around guard.

He put up 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists last year with the Braves, and would be a great addition to the Gators’ roster.

Current Frontcourt & Transfer Options

Moving on from the backcourt, Golden should also look to add some depth in the paint. The current big men on the roster are CJ Felder, Jalen Reed, Colin Castleton, and Jason Jitoboh.

CJ Felder is a good piece, but not always reliable, and Jalen Reed will likely need to gain a little more experience before being a consistent player. Castleton has more than established himself as a premier big man, but Jitoboh still has some holes in his game.

One option to add to the roster is LSU transfer, Alex Fudge. Fudge’s numbers won’t get fans excited by themselves, but his length and defensive abilities would be a big help to the Gators. Fudge is also originally from Jacksonville, so he already has ties to the state of Florida.

A second option down low would be Northern Iowa transfer, Noah Carter. Carter is a 6’6”, 229 lbs sophomore, so his size would be an instant benefit for the Gators. He also produced well, averaging 15 points and 4.1 rebounds a game. Carter has a visit to Gainesville coming up, but the Gators will have to compete with the likes of VA Tech, Missouri, Marquette, and Arkansas to land him.

While Todd Golden has been able to keep a few pieces of the Gator’s roster intact, he still has some additions he needs to make to put Florida in a good position going into next season.

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