I’ve gone back and forth with my opinion on Stephon Castle during this draft cycle, but I have finally come to the conclusion that he is simply too good at too many things to not be a highly ranked prospect on my board. He is one of the best defenders in the draft, gets to the rim more than everyone in the draft not named Isaiah Collier, and is really come around as a passer and off-ball mover. The shooting is concerning, but he is well above average in every other basketball skill. He has the upside to be an all-nba caliber player, and a relatively high floor because of his defense. The only thing holding him back is his shooting, which has already improved drastically over the course of the season. I’m confident that Castle is going to be a really good basketball player for a very long time.

Shades of — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Markelle Fultz

Best team fits — Charlotte, Washington

April: he’s just so good at so many different things, the shooting is for sure the swing skill for me. The defense will translate and be immediately good, and he can be an impactful player based off of his off ball movement, athleticism, and playmaking. The shooting is terrible and there’s a bust chance associated with that, but he brings so many things that correlate to winning that I feel like he will stick. Won’t put a guard who can’t shoot top 3, but I like him a lot

January: I honestly don’t know what he brings to the table. His shooting is so awful, he’s 13% from three and defenders just guard him in the paint because they don’t even have to worry about the pull up. His complete inability to shoot makes him a poor offensive player. I think his pull up middy is decent and sometimes defenders just give that to him, his defense and rebounding look good for his position, but I’m having serious concerns about castle’s future in the nba because I don’t even know what he does. His defense and athleticism could make him a role player, but, unless you’re a 7 footer, role players have to be able to shoot. He can’t get to the rim because they’ll just have a big guy on him because they don’t have to guard him. From my evaluation there’s no real reason he should be anywhere close to lotto.

6’5 Ben Simmons, Jalen Suggs

Stephon Castle - UConn (PG/SG - HT: 6’6” - WING: 6’9” - WT: 190 - A: 18y)

- Big guard with tons of wiggle and shot creation
- A scorer who will break you down off the dribble or catch and put it on the floor to drive by you and get to his spot
- Great driver and very good finishing at the rim. Looks like an NBA player there
- Good playmaker but probably a 2 eventually, not a point guard
- Not great yet off ball because he’s not much of a shooter. Rarely takes 3s
- Shades of Jimmy Butler, Devin Vassell, Spencer Dinwiddie

Range: 2 - 12

Poste(s) : SG

Âge : 19 ans

Taille : 1m98

Stats : 10.9pts, 4.5reb, 3.0ast, 0.9stl, 0.6blk

Adresse : 47%fg, 29%3pt, 76%tf

Troublant de ressemblance avec Jimmy Butler pour ce qui est de la dégaine, rien ne dit que Castle connaîtra la même progression hallucinante que Jimmy Bucket, mais il semble en tout cas meilleur que Butler ne l'était au même âge. Puissant et astucieux à la finition, il ne lui manque finalement qu'un tir extérieur. Fort pour changer de rythme et décélérer quand il le faut, Castle a démontré un excellent contrôle du corps et donc une belle coordination en pénétration. Avec sa grande taille (1m98) et sa force (quasi 100kg), il peut facilement se frayer un chemin à travers les intérieurs... NBA-ready en somme. Trop irrégulier à 3pts et à la création, il devrait malgré tout jouer un rôle important dès sa saison rookie, ne serait-ce que sur la base de ses qualités défensives. Il est d'ailleurs un des meilleurs défenseurs de sa cuvée pour ce qui est des les lignes arrières.

Overview:

Stephon Castle is a 6'6", 190-pound combo guard from the University of Connecticut who recently emerged as a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. His well-rounded skillset, leadership qualities, and winning mentality make him an intriguing option for teams seeking a versatile guard who can contribute immediately.

Strengths:

Efficiency and craftiness: Castle scores efficiently, utilizing a variety of moves to create his own shot and get to the basket. He finishes layups with good touch and displays a knack for scoring in the paint despite not being the most athletic player. Strong basketball IQ: Castle possesses a high basketball IQ, making smart decisions with the ball and understanding his role within the team. He reads defenses well, finds open teammates with timely passes, and consistently makes positive contributions on the court. Improved shooting: While not a lights-out shooter, Castle has steadily improved his three-point shooting throughout his college career. He can knock down open shots consistently enough to keep defenses honest and create space for himself and teammates. Leadership and winning mentality: Castle demonstrates strong leadership qualities, both vocally and through his actions. He leads by example with his work ethic and positive attitude, contributing to a winning culture for his team.

Weaknesses:

Limited athleticism: Compared to elite NBA guards, Castle lacks elite athleticism. This could limit his explosiveness, particularly when finishing against bigger and stronger defenders at the next level. Average defender: While his effort and IQ are commendable, Castle's lack of elite athleticism and lateral quickness can be liabilities defensively against quicker guards. He needs to improve his footwork and defensive awareness to be a more consistent defender in the NBA. Three-point range inconsistency: While showing improvement, Castle can still be inconsistent with his three-point shooting at times. Expanding his range and becoming a more reliable threat from beyond the arc would significantly elevate his offensive value in the NBA.

Overall:

Stephon Castle is a high-character player with a well-rounded skillset and a winning mentality. His efficient scoring, basketball IQ, and leadership qualities make him a valuable asset. If he can continue refining his shooting, improve his athleticism, and develop into a more consistent defender, he has the potential to become a solid contributor in the NBA.

Additional Notes:

Castle's emergence as a potential first-round pick is a testament to his hard work and dedication to improvement. Some scouts compare him to a young Jrue Holiday due to his leadership, well-rounded skillset, and defensive effort, while others see him as a more offensively-focused player in the mold of Malcolm Brogdon. His leadership, winning mentality, and ability to contribute in various ways make him a good fit for any team seeking a versatile guard who can contribute immediately and grow into a key role player.

Overall, Stephon Castle is a player to watch closely in the lead-up to the 2024 NBA Draft. He has the talent and potential to make a significant impact on the league for years to come.

Strengths:

Incredible Defender

Athletic

Good Handles

Good Finisher

Weaknesses:

Bad Shooter

Not good off-ball

Player Comparisons: Jalen Suggs

Stephon Castle, out of all the questionable jump shooting top prospects, I think his success depends the most on it. For Topic and Holland, they do more offensively and they don't need a jumper to be successful. I don't think Castle needs one to be successful, but his offensive role is very limited without one. He is currently not an NBA caliber PG, but that can also come, and without a jump shot, he will probably be placed in an off ball role where he is just cutting and setting screens, which he is very good at.

Defensively he is very talented. In my opinion, he has All Defensive upside as the primary guard defender. His length and speed at 6'6" allows him to guard 1-3 very comfortably.

I do think he develops his ball handling and playmaking ability enough to be a starting PG and I think his jump shot develops a bit and with his defense he is a top 5 player from this class.

Ceiling: Starting PG or Complimentary off ball guard on a championship level team Floor: Lakers Lonzo Ball/Atlanta Hawks Rajon Rondo Comparison: PG Andrew Wiggins?

Ideal Fits:

1. Washington Wizards

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Houston Rockets