Neal Walk (1966-69) – Center Neal Walk is probably the greatest Gators athlete that most Florida fans have never heard of. Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Miami Beach, Fla., Walk did not start a high school game until his senior year when his team made it to the state semifinals. He attended the University of Florida on an academic scholarship, where he played center for three seasons under coach Tommy Bartlett. During his time in Gainesville from 1966-69, Walk set multitudes of team records that still stand, including career rebounds (1,181), points per game (20.8), and rebounds in a single game (31), while also leaving school as the all-time leading scorer — a distinction he no longer holds. His No. 41 jersey remains the only number retired by UF’s basketball program. Walk was taken at No. 2 in the 1969 NBA Draft by the Phoneix Suns — the highest of any Florida basketball player ever — just behind legendary Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) after the Suns lost a coin toss with the Milwaukee Bucks for the top pick. The best years of Walk’s professional career came early on in Phoenix, where he hit his high-water mark during the 1972–73 season, averaging a career-best 20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. The double-double machine was traded to the New Orleans Jazz in 1974 where his career completely came apart, falling from a front line starter to a benchwarmer with the Jazz and also shortly after with the New York Knicks until 1977. Walk finished his career professional career in Italy, retiring in 1978. Complications from spinal cord surgery to remove a benign growth in 1987 left him without the use of his legs, rendering him wheelchair-bound for the remainder of his life. The Gator great passed away in 2015 after a long bout with poor health. UF sports
For his on the court play Vernon Maxwell's number (11) should be retired but too much baggage off the court for that to ever happen. At one time he was the #2 scorer in the history of the SEC and still would be but he was stripped of it. #2 behind Pistol Pete is quite a feat. I can see Horford's 42 being retired someday. Or maybe the numbers of all five starters that accomplished back to back championships with the same starting five. That will never happen again.
Vernon was a superstar from high school, can’t miss prospect. He proved that at Florida and in the Pros. We should still put his name in the rafters. Why, because he chose Florida and got us a Sweet Sixteen spot when that was hard to get and lastly, it is better to forgive people for their transgressions. I am sure he is more mature now, but with every agent and coach, fans praising him for his athletic exploits, superstars like him, one and dones, a lot of them don’t know the reality of growing up with mature guidance being the norm. He was great for the Gators and had a unbelievable long career in the NBA. Michael Jordan knows who he is. We should also bring in Jason Williams who went on and became a big star. They should be recognized for their efforts and talents to show recruits we will have your backs. After all, their transgressions pail in comparison to the recruiting of one and dones at Kansas, Arizona, North Carolina and Duke. We need all the NBA stars we have to help the UF mens basketball team become great again. Jason’s son is a chip off the block, would make sense.
Actually Micheal Kerr was the last Gator hoopster to wear #41, but he did it for one game. It was during the Sloane years when he brought in football players in the middle of the season. Some of us in the stands were outraged. Kerr wore a different number the next game and the rest of the season.
I remember Michael Kerr and Sloan always wanted physical bigs, nothing wrong with that in my mind. I loved Kenny McClary, Livingston Chatman and others that he brought in, we were always competitive. CMW had so many twig like players we never got what we wanted in NCAA Tournament wins and SEC tournament wins. keyontae was the first player with muscle on one of his teams. People like Udonis Haslem never became big promoters of his regime due to his weak teams. I hope when Udonis retires from the NBA he will help Florida get the type of players we need from the Miami areas.
Leave 41 retired but don't retire anymore, I've always found retiring numbers to be silly, glad the football team doesn't do it.
