Adam WellsApril 19, 2024
Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos through Getty Images
After winning a nationwide title and being called Big East Freshman of the Year, Stephon Castle is leaving Connecticut for the NBA.
Castle informed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday he has actually stated for the 2024 NBA draft.
B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman forecasted Castle to be the No. 5 choice to the Portland Trail Blazers in his newest mock draft.
Castle was a 5-star possibility and No. 9 total gamer in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports.
The 19-year-old appeared in 34 of UConn’s 40 video games, consisting of 30 starts. He balanced 11.1 points on 47.2 percent shooting and 4.7 rebounds per contest.
Castle was excellent for the Huskies throughout their gone through the NCAA competition, especially in the Final Four and nationwide title video game. He scored a combined 36 points on 13-of-26 shooting with 10 rebounds and 5 helps in wins over Alabama and Purdue.
Wasserman mentioned Castle’s “death, defense, hustle and play-finishing” as the most significant strengths he revealed throughout his freshman project.
If Castle can enhance his shooting touch– he linked on simply 26.7 percent of his three-point efforts– there’s remarkable advantage for him in the NBA. He’s noted at 6’6″ and has long arms that permit him to be extremely disruptive as a protector.
Castle ends up being the 3rd various Huskies gamer who has actually stated for the draft, together with Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban. Clingan is likewise a forecasted lotto choice. Karaban was a late second-round choice to the Boston Celtics in Wasserman’s mock.
The NBA draft order will be set when the lottery game happens on May 12. The Detroit Pistons have the very best chances for the No. 1 general choice, followed by the Washington Wizards, Blazers, Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs to complete the leading 5.