Stephon Castle: Is the UConn Freshmen a true PG?
Throughout the NBA pre-draft workout circuit, Castle has refused to work out for teams that already have PG's limiting his options, and potentially his role. Why?
After Castle's first mention on Draft Latest around two months ago, Dan Hurley's UConn Huskies completed their quest for back-to-back National Championships. Castle played an outsized role for a Freshman, taking pride defensively while displaying encouraging signs offensively. Soon after, Castle found himself fully immersed in the pre-draft process, interviewing with teams and endeavoring to cater to his potential situation to enable him to thrive.
Coming out of high school at Newton (Ga.), Castle was a tricky 6'6" Guard/Wing prospect with an excellent feel for the game but fell into the new era mold of positionless basketball. A 5-star McDonald's All-American, Castle arrived in Storrs with big expectations. The first half of the season for Castle exhibited typical Freshmen adaptation struggles. The 3-point shot didn't fall, compounded by knee troubles that knackered Castle throughout the majority of the 1st half of the year.
With the 2nd half of the season, Castle turned a page. UConn ripped off lots of wins, and Castle played an essential role alongside his other draft-aspiring teammates. Averaging 11.1/4.7/2.9 at 6'6", 215 lbs, albeit on subpar efficiency from beyond the arc (26.7% on 2.6 attempts per game), Castle's contributions to winning have impressed front-offices league-wide cementing Castle as a lottery pick. Now, the question is: Where will Castle land if he's declining workouts, and what will he bring to those teams? Without further ado, let's jump right in!
Strengths
Throughout the year, as expected, Castle provided disruptive on and off-ball defense for Dan Hurley's team. With his 6'6", 215 lbs frame combined with a 6'9" wingspan, Castle has all the tools to be a highly effective 2-way player at the next level. Especially throughout UConn's national championship run, Castle took on the opposing team's best player, making life difficult for several quality players like Mark Sears, for example (although he played well vs UConn). Additionally, the foot speed Castle equips teams with on the perimeter is enviable league-wide, which will help Castle carve out a niche early on in his NBA career while his offense catches up to his defense.
In addition to Castle's defensive acumen, he possesses intriguing playmaking skills that leave a lot for NBA teams to work with. Despite not being an advantageous creator for himself, Castle constantly found ways to manipulate defenders in the pick & roll, getting to his spots efficiently before creatively getting his shot off or playmaking for others. Castle's passing brings a lot to NBA offenses. Despite not having the shot at this point in his development, Castle still possesses loads of gravity for his age because of his passing. At this stage in his trajectory as a player, Castle is similar to Anthony Black, who was picked 6th last year by the Magic for reasons similar to Castle. Black carved out a minor role for the playoff team this year through his defense, which will be similar to Castle, albeit probably in different situations. The best way to describe Castle's passing is flowy. It keeps everybody in rhythm while initiating good offensive flow in the halfcourt, driving the offense.
It's also worth mentioning that due to his limitations on the perimeter offensively, Castle has developed into a far better cutter than he was during his high school days. This year, Castle cut more than he did throughout his time at Newton High School (Ga.)and Atlanta Xpress (UAA), which helps further the idea of his initial contributions at the next level.
Weaknesses
As mentioned sparsely above, Castle's main weakness in his game at the moment is in his shot. He shot 26.7% from 3 this year but had moments of promise on the perimeter. Dating back to his high school and AAU days, Castle has shown a willingness to take and make difficult shots from deep. Although he had the willingness to take those shots in high school, Castle has historically been an inefficient shooter from beyond the arc. Castle's 3 point shot shouldn't be concerning, though. He's had outbursts that lead you to believe he can translate that to the next level, like the 41-point performance vs. Duncanville (TX.) and Ron Holland, splashing 3s from all over the court confidently.
Castle's aggressiveness leads me to believe it can be replicated at the next level should he work with a good shooting coach and hone in on his 3-point stroke. Whether his shot will be like how it is in high school (above) or college (below) remains to be determined, but the intangibles are there alongside solid mechanics despite a slightly slow release.
In addition to Castle's shooting, it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the workout process plays out for Castle, as he's made it known he will only be working out for teams without true PGs (Wizards, Spurs, and Jazz). This will complicate the potential landing spots for Castle, highlighting a question/weakness of sorts: What role does Castle play at the next level?
Wrap-Up
As Castle embarks on his NBA journey, his unique blend of defensive prowess and playmaking potential makes him an exciting prospect despite his current shooting struggles. His size, wingspan, and agility will allow him to make an immediate impact defensively. At the same time, his ability to keep the offense flowing with creative passing will provide value to any team willing to bet on his upside. The comparison to Anthony Black is fitting; Castle, like Black, can carve out a niche early in his career through his defense and playmaking, gradually developing his offensive game under the right guidance.
The NBA pre-draft process will be critical for Castle, especially given his decision to limit workouts to teams in need of a primary ball-handler. This strategic move underscores his confidence and desire to thrive in the right situation. With his determination and skill set, Castle's potential is undeniable. Wherever he lands, expect Castle to bring his trademark DOG and high basketball IQ, making him a valuable addition to any roster league-wide.