Florida Gators Basketball: Chris Chiozza Steps Up For UF
The Florida Gators received what may have been a breakout performance by Chris Chiozza during the recent 91-60 victory over the North Florida Ospreys.
Chris Chiozza is the type of player whose impact is rarely indicated by the statistics he accumulates. He’s more about energy and creating opportunities than he is going off for explosive marks in the box score.
That common rule was broken on Thursday, December 1 when Chiozza stepped up to lead the Gators to a 91-60 victory over the North Florida Ospreys.
Chiozza was brilliant in his 26 minutes of play. He finished with 16 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and three steals while shooting an efficient 5-of-8 from the field, 3-of-5 from 3-point range, and 3-of-3 at the free throw line.
Chiozza chalked his big game up to being patient and allowing the offense to come to him.
Video Chris Chiozza talks big scoring night pic.twitter.com/d7aHMrSs4f
— Kevin Brockway (@gatorhoops) December 2, 2016
With more performances like this, Chiozza could reignite his NBA hype.
Chiozza, a junior, was one of the most highly-touted players in the country coming out of high school. He was a four-star player and a Top 50 overall recruit on ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports, and Scout in 2014.
Chiozza received scholarship offers from the likes of the Butler Bulldogs, Memphis Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and VCU Rams, but ultimately chose Florida.
The Gators are beginning to benefit from his presence on a postseason-caliber level.
Chiozza struggled to maintain an adequate level of efficiency during his first two seasons in Gainesville. He’s still encountering issues in 2016, but the North Florida game was a display of how far he’s come as an all-around player.
According to Bailiegh Williams of Gator Country, head coach Mike White singled Chiozza out as the catalyst to the 91-60 win over North Florida.
“I didn’t think we were great offensively and then you look down at the numbers and say ‘my goodness, we shot a really good percentage’,” he said. “Chris Chiozza obviously steps up and hits three threes … I thought Chris Chiozza led that charge, not only scoring for himself, but getting other guys shots all the way down until the end.”
Chiozza has been quietly invaluable to the Gators’ 7-1 start.
It’s worth noting that Chiozza has already pieced together a string of solid games in 2016-17. He scored 14 points in 22 minutes during the 81-76 win over the Seton Hall Pirates and had five assists in 23 minutes during the 65-56 victory against the Miami Hurricanes.
If Chiozza can stabilize his outside shooting, he can continue to develop into one of the most lethal reserves in the country.
The better Chiozza plays, the more likely it is that Florida will appear in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
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