I'm late I know. Just want young & old Gators to know about ~ '67 Gator Great Neal Walk :
1) Freshmen ineligible to play. So Neal's first year (6'10" soph) he averaged 11.5 pts & 8.2 rbs.
2) And led UF to a 21-4 season. (IMHO, this shows how superior a really talented center makes a team.)
3) Career vs UK = Walk averaged 24.7 pts & 22.5 rbs. Playing against UK/NBA great Dan Issel.
4) led nation in rebounding his junior year.
5) Walk was UF's 1st AA basketball player. Finished 3 yrs with 1,600 points.
6) UF career average = 20.8 pts & 15.3 rbs.
7) 2nd team AA '67-'68 at ave of 26.5 ppg & 19.8 rbs.
8) 3rd team AA '68-69 at ave of 24 ppg & 19.8 rbs.
9) Still holds UF all-time record for rebounds at 1,181 and career scoring 20.8.??
10) Walk got #2 in the NBA draft because a guy named Lew Alcindor got 1st. (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
11) In a '72 game vs Jabbar (center v center) Walk scored 42.
12) in '75-'76 Walk shared playing time with teammate Phil Jackson.
13) Neal Walk is in the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
1982 a tumor on his spine compromised his coordination. After surgery Walk lost the use of both legs. A couple of years later President G.W. Bush draped Neal's neck with the medal for Wheelchair Basketball Athlete of the Year.
On one of his last awards gatherings, Neal Walk 6'10" unable to stand, a quiet modest man of few words, spoke: "I'm very satisfied with the life I've lived. I've had tremendous personal success and a great education at the university of Florida." - Neal Walk died Oct. 4, 2015 age 67, much too young.