Stephon castle
A smothering on-ball defender capable of operating different roles on the offensive end of the floor, Stephon Castle’s draft stock rebounded due to his contributions to UConn’s title run. While Castle can defer to others and operate off-ball, his upside and ceiling is tied to his on-ball effectiveness. He has made his desire to play the one at the next level, but he has also flashed the ability to excel as a primary initiator. With a quick first step and a tight handle, Castle is able to break down opposing defenses to create looks for himself and his teammates. His assist numbers don’t jump off the page, but they also fail to tell the whole story. His nearly 2.0 AST/TO ratio hint at his upside as a creator, while his effectiveness from the field as a scorer (49% FG) highlights his scoring upside.
SHADES OF:
Lakers Lonzo Ball
GSW Andre Igoudala
Evan Turner
Big board rankings:
Josh - #3 Overall (64)
Liam - #?
measurements:
Height: 6’5.5”
Wingspan: 6’9”
Weight: 210 lbs
Age: 19.7
Best landing spot:
San Antonio Spurs: If he can serve as a primary initiator, Stephon Castle would excel on a San Antonio Spurs team that would fit him like a glove. Desperate for a point guard, the Spurs would welcome Castle selflessness with open arms; however, they would fall in love with his positional versatility, especially on defense. As a point-of-attack defender, Castle would be a weapon on a team full of promising young players, including a generational superstar in Wembanyama.
OFFENSE:
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Boasting a feathery touch, an ability to absorb contact, and the flexibility to finish with both ends, Castle is phenomenal in the paint. On top of this, he has great footwork and the ability to stop-and-go, making him extremely slithery and difficult to stop after he gets downhill. At just 19 years old, he’s already physically gifted enough to take advantage of smaller defenders during drives.
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There are moments where Castle makes you believe he can be a 3-level scorer. He has advanced footwork and utilizes his handle extremely well, allowing him to get to his spots. The issue with his in-between game lies mostly with his inconsistent shot. His floater game is good, but his inconsistent shooting form hampers his jump shots off the dribble.
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There are moments where Castle makes you believe he can be a 3-level scorer. He has advanced footwork and utilizes his handle extremely well, allowing him to get to his spots. The issue with his in-between game lies mostly with his inconsistent shot. His floater game is good, but his inconsistent shooting form hampers his jump shots off the dribble.
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As touched on earlier, Castle’s ability to create for himself, especially on drives, should have scouts drooling. He’s quick, but he also understand tempo and pace, making him difficult to stop. To top it off, he has great control of the ball, with a tight handle and a variety of moves. His ability to finish jump shots off the dribble is still questionable, but the potential is there.
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Because of his iffy shotmaking, especially on the catch, Castle’s ability to affect the game off ball is limited to his cutting. He’s dangerous in transition and is a viable lob threat. His IQ and on-court awareness helps him make timely cuts, too. Improving his shooting will be key to his effectiveness away from the ball, but his upside, as mentioned earlier, is tied to having the ball in his hands.
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Castle wasn’t often offered an opportunity to facilitate UConn’s offense, but he didn’t squander the opportunities he did receive. With a 2.0 AST/TO ratio, his ball control and decision-making shone through. He is more than capable of making a smooth transition into a connective wing at the next level, but Castle wouldn’t be satisfied with that.
His playmaking upside is real, as he not only has the vision to make any pass in the half-court, but he also has the size to see over defenders. He uses his athleticism and strength to collapse defenses, and can make the correct reads. He should also be able to operate the Pick and Roll at a high-level.
DEFENSE:
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A strong, physical player, Castle is difficult to move as an interior defender, especially when matched up with players of similar size. He’s always aware of his positioning, making him a perfect weapon on defense. He’s a strong rebounder for a guard, too.
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His defensive skillset shines even brighter on the perimeter. He can be a point-of-attack defender at the next level, but he can also be used in a variety of defensive sets. He uses every bit of his wingspan, disrupting offensive flow by intercepting passes. His lateral movement on defense is insane, as he’s able to change directions without issue. This allows him to stick with even the quickest guards, giving them little breathing room to operate.
INTANGIBLES:
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Castle is physically strong. He’s able to stick with wings in the paint, but is also able to absorb contact on drives. He’s also shown the ability to finish above the rim both on drives and as a cutter/lob-finisher. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s, at the very least, a high-level NBA athlete.
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Castle’s size grades is entirely dependent on what position he plays at the next level. If he can’t operate as lead guard, he would just be an average-sized wing; however, his size would be an absolute boon at the one. He uses every bit of his wingspan and his strength on both ends of the floor, as he is physically strong as well.
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A complete tone-setter. Whenever he’s on the floor, Castle is engaged and his motor helps him remain impactful on both ends. On defense, He smothers whomever he is guarding and prides himself on disrupting offenses by deflecting passes and securing rebounds. On the other end, Castle is a smart cutter who constantly moves off-ball. The energy he plays with helps him impact the game in a positive way even without the ball in his hands.