Florida basketball officially resets Vernon Maxwell's career scoring milestone.
In a significant move, the University of Florida has reinstated the final two years of college board statistics for basketball legend Vernon Maxwell. This decision elevates Maxwell to the top of the school's all-time scoring list.
Before this week, Maxwell ranked 55th on the school's all-time scoring list. However, Florida's athletic director at the time, Bill Arnsparger, stripped Maxwell's stats for two years, taking away 1,404 points over 67 games. This decision was made in the late 80s, during a period when the NCAA placed the Gators on unsanctioned probation due to an investigation.
Maxwell, who led the Gators to their first NCAA Tournament in 1987, has had a storied career both on and off the court. Following his college career, he played 12 years in the NBA with eight teams: the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Dallas Mavericks.
Maxwell's college board statistics are now back in the record books, and he has taken his rightful place as the all-time leading scorer for the University of Florida. During his four seasons at Florida (1985-89), Maxwell scored 2,450 points and averaged 18.8 points per game.
Vernon Maxwell's reinstated statistics place him third in SEC history in scoring, behind LSU’s 'Pistol' Pete Maravich and Tennessee’s Allan Houston. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, who made the decision to reinstate Maxwell's statistics, stated that Maxwell is one of the greatest players to wear a Gator uniform.
Maxwell expressed his gratitude for having his stats reinstated, stating it means the world to him and his mother. He will celebrate the news with friends, family, and former teammates during a program reunion this weekend.
According to College Basketball Reference, Maxwell finished fourth in the SEC in career field goals, second in career field goal attempts, and 15th in minutes played. Maxwell was a two-time, first-team All-SEC selection.
In addition, Maxwell won back-to-back titles with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995. Chris Harry of FloridaGators.com reports that Stricklin believes Maxwell earned his points and is pleased to see Maxwell's legacy restored.
This decision by the University of Florida acknowledges the significant impact Maxwell had on the Gators' basketball programme and celebrates his remarkable career. Maxwell's reinstated statistics serve as a testament to his talent, dedication, and the indelible mark he left on the University of Florida and the SEC.
