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Heading into the 2024 NBA draft, Stephon Castle has been among the most highly touted prospects. Fresh off winning a national championship at UConn, the versatile guard is expected to be among the first names off the board on Wednesday night.
Castle averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in his lone college season.
As the UConn guard prepares to enter the pro ranks, here is a full breakdown of the potential lottery pick.
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Stephon Castle's strengths and weaknesses
There is a lot to like about Stephon Castle as an NBA prospect. For starters, he has an NBA-ready frame. He used his size and athleticism to be impactful on both sides of the ball.
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At UConn, Castle showed he can be a defensive stopper. He has long arms and is aggressive when guarding the ball. This should make him a desirable pick for any team needing a point-of-attack defender.
On the offensive end, Castle can be a lead guard at the NBA level. He is explosive for a guard, which allows him to play above the rim. His frame and athleticism also allowed him to consistently be a downhill threat with the ball in his hands.
His assist numbers don't show it, but Castle is a willing playmaker. He operated in the pick-and-roll with Donovan Clingan, showing he could make proper reads and hit the standout center prospect with pinpoint lobs.
However, Castle's weakness is his three-point shooting. While at UConn, he shot 26.7% from beyond the arc on just two attempts per game. He'll have to work on this to maximize his impact on offense.
Stephon Castle player comparisons
One clear player comparison for Stephon Castle is Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown. They have similar frames, and many of their respective playstyles mirror each other.
Brown has thrived in the NBA as a defensive wing and secondary playmaker. He displayed his skills in 2023 when he helped the Denver Nuggets win an NBA title. Along with providing above-average defense on the perimeter, Brown also took on playmaking duties alongside Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
Castle could serve a similar role at the NBA level but to a higher degree. Another major difference is Castle has more upside as a scorer.
Another good comparison for Castle is New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels. He is also a bit of a do-it-all guard who has shown nice flashes on the defensive end. Both players are also subpar shooters from beyond the arc.
Stephon Castle draft projection
Through the pre-draft process, Castle's camp has not provided any information regarding the teams he is meeting with. This makes it tough to pinpoint where he could go on draft night.
One team that could land Castle is the San Antonio Spurs at pick No. 4. They require a lead guard to pair alongside reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama. Drafting the UConn guard would give the Spurs a pair of two-way prospects to be their building blocks moving forward.
