Castle on the U

[Huskyforlife]

Always so clutch with the videos.

 

[husky429]

I would say yes. It’s definitely a yes if the PG can shoot. Castle will likely have a hard time guarding quick point guards so it would be great to have a guy like Diarra to do that. But the offense will be run with the ball in Castles hand and having good shooters on the floor will be key. He was making Andre Jackson level passes all game today

I don't think you could play Andre, Diarra and Castle together often. Castle is more like a 30-35% shooter right now. With those 3 + a center, Karaban would be our only elite shooter on the floor... no bueno.

Castle playing PG but guarding SFs is ideal. Gives us some flexibility on the portal... quick little guards who can shoot are a dime a dozen.

 

[husky429]

I really like his instinct to penetrate to the FT line and make plays. Puts a lot of pressure on the D and pits them in scramble early in the shot clock

 

[Hoophound]

I don't think you could play Andre, Diarra and Castle together often. Castle is more like a 30-35% shooter right now. With those 3 + a center, Karaban would be our only elite shooter on the floor... no bueno.

Castle playing PG but guarding SFs is ideal. Gives us some flexibility on the portal... quick little guards who can shoot are a dime a dozen.

If quick little guards who can shoot are a dime a dozen, why do we always lack them?

 

[UConnKev]

 

[huskyfan224]

the mid range shot is the worst shot in bball.

I understand in a college game, it is More necessary than the NBA. Also, many PGs utilize the mid range more so as a floater, rather than attacking the rim directly, which makes sense from a pick and roll style game

UConn example: IMO, Hawkins in the NBA will lose that pull up jumper. He will learn to pump and step sideways to open the 3 again.

the coaches job is to prepare the true NBA prospects for the next level. They will choose to develop a skill set suitable for their future success every time…until the tournament comes and all bets are off. Just win, baby!

All they do now is chuck 3s after taking 3 steps or take shots at the rim. Poor product

 

[aburks41]

I don't think you could play Andre, Diarra and Castle together often. Castle is more like a 30-35% shooter right now. With those 3 + a center, Karaban would be our only elite shooter on the floor... no bueno.

Castle playing PG but guarding SFs is ideal. Gives us some flexibility on the portal... quick little guards who can shoot are a dime a dozen.

Do you think we’ll be able to get a guard, like a Mark Sears type from Bama, to come here? Running a lineup of a small shifty PG, castle, jackson, karaban, clingan would be ideal. I just don’t know what a transfer would think about playing time

The biggest X factor next season is going to be Jackson’s scoring ability. We need him to develop something to put the ball in the hoop. He can do everything else already, but if he can add that to his arsenal he’ll be insane

 

[husky429]

If quick little guards who can shoot are a dime a dozen, why do we always lack them?

We don't recruit them (and probably should). Or maybe Joey/Hassan was supposed to be that guy. Idk.

 

[husky429]

Do you think we’ll be able to get a guard, like a Mark Sears type from Bama, to come here? Running a lineup of a small shifty PG, castle, jackson, karaban, clingan would be ideal.

The biggest X factor next season is going to be Jackson’s scoring ability. We need him to develop something to put the ball in the hoop. He can do everything else already, but if he can add that to his arsenal he’ll be insane

Mark Sears-type would be perfect for this team next year. Might be a tough sell with Newton at the 1, but we need it.

 

[Thirty Three]

They are great shots for some players, Pg, Kawhi, KD, Chris Paul etc. Obviously those are stars, but those players make a living in the mid range. If you have that to your game, you’re virtually impossible to stop.

I saw stats last week that showed the top 10 midrange shooters in the NBA. They are pretty much all superstars. It’s not a coincidence that a number of the best players in the NBA are so well rounded and take the midrange game seriously. It’s also an easy shot to stop and pop from 15 feet if you practice it. Hawkins is figuring that out and starting to nail that pull up jumper with consistency.

 

[Rico444]

It's nice to have the midrange jumper in the toolkit. It's not as efficient as a 3 or layup, but that's generally speaking. If there's 2 seconds on the shot clock and you take a 3 with a defender right in your face because he knows you're going to shoot it, that's not an efficient shot. Same thing if you drive it into the paint and the help defender comes over and you're trying to hit a layup over 2 guys. Sometimes the efficient shot isn't available; the defense knows you're trying to get an open 3 or layup, and they're designed to try to take that away. On some possessions, a wide-open midrange jumper isn't a bad shot.

 

[Fishy]

What's probability of Castle learning enough from Jackson in one year on how to be a facilitator without dominating the ball as a PG?

Neither one is a point guard, so I would guess the probability is rather low.

 

[caw]

From the highlights, it appears he really makes himself small when he needs to and big when he needs to.

I mean he gets low with his dribble as opposed to say Jackson or Newton who have pretty high dribbles (matching their stature) but also makes himself big on the boards and when near the rim.

 

[aburks41]

Mark Sears-type would be perfect for this team next year. Might be a tough sell with Newton at the 1, but we need it.

I thought Newton was supposed to be just a 1 year rental. I know he has another year of eligibility, but didn't think he was planning on using it.

 

[husky429]

I thought Newton was supposed to be just a 1 year rental. I know he has another year of eligibility, but didn't think he was planning on using it.

I think he's probably gone unless he wants the Master's degree. Just an example. Newton gone would obviously necessitate recruiting a PG in the portal no matter what

 

[CL82]

the mid range shot is the worst shot in bball.

I understand in a college game, it is More necessary than the NBA. Also, many PGs utilize the mid range more so as a floater, rather than attacking the rim directly, which makes sense from a pick and roll style game

Yeah, I understand the metrics of it, but to me, the declaration of the demise of the mid range shot is premature. The ability to stop and pull up for a mid range shot is another thing for defenders to be worried about. I know it was another era, but that was Rip Hamilton’s bread and butter (well, that in incessant motion.) now the thing that absolutely kills me is the shot just inside the three-point line. That makes no sense to me whatsoever.

 

[HooperScooper]

Neither one is a point guard, so I would guess the probability is rather low.

I haven't watched Castle that much to say he is or isn't a point guard, but what have you seen that would make you say he's not a point guard? Most of the recruiting analysts are saying he's a point guard. In another post a few weeks ago (link below) I linked a bunch of articles where the recruiting analysts were gushing over his point guard skills. Do you think he'd be better off the ball in a kind of secondary point guard role? And then have a more traditional quick smaller ballhandler next to him?

New grid alert

The dude is built like an offensive tackle and you think some “skill” will allow him to play perimeter basketball. You’d be better off arguing he can have a Derrick Favors type career at center. I beg of you, please go watch a pre season nba game on right now. You won’t see anyone built like...

the-boneyard.com

 

[Fishy]

I haven't watched Castle that much to say he is or isn't a point guard, but what have you seen that would make you say he's not a point guard? Most of the recruiting analysts are saying he's a point guard. In another post a few weeks ago (link below) I linked a bunch of articles where the recruiting analysts were gushing over his point guard skills. Do you think he'd be better off the ball in a kind of secondary point guard role? And then have a more traditional quick smaller ballhandler next to him?

New grid alert

The dude is built like an offensive tackle and you think some “skill” will allow him to play perimeter basketball. You’d be better off arguing he can have a Derrick Favors type career at center. I beg of you, please go watch a pre season nba game on right now. You won’t see anyone built like...

the-boneyard.com

“ The first question in the Castle evaluation is whether he is a true point guard at the next level. He plays with the ball in his hands now and has shown a passing acumen, but seemed more natural as the athletic secondary playmaker with size during his stint with USA Basketball.“ Adam Finklestein.

That’s what I see when I watch him. He’s the best player on the floor 99% of the time in high school so he can play point guard or center if he wants - doesn’t translate that well to college hoop.

He’s a terrific player - he’s just not a point guard. Ideally, we’d have one - even tonight, we got a little sketchy when Marquette started to press because our best point guard, Newton, is a big combo. Gonna be an issue until it’s fixed.

 

[Huskyforlife]

“ The first question in the Castle evaluation is whether he is a true point guard at the next level. He plays with the ball in his hands now and has shown a passing acumen, but seemed more natural as the athletic secondary playmaker with size during his stint with USA Basketball.“ Adam Finklestein.

That’s what I see when I watch him. He’s the best player on the floor 99% of the time in high school so he can play point guard or center if he wants - doesn’t translate that well to college hoop.

He’s a terrific player - he’s just not a point guard. Ideally, we’d have one - even tonight, we got a little sketchy when Marquette started to press because our best point guard, Newton, is a big combo. Gonna be an issue until it’s fixed.

What makes someone a true point guard?

 

[TeasenDonut]

Castles handle impressed me in this game. He was getting blitzed by 2-3 defenders bringing the ball up court and had no problems with it.

 

[HooperScooper]

Not sure why Finkelstein wrote this article but figured I'd post it. Has a complete evaluation of Castle that he wrote previously.

With this performance, Newton is the first Husky to ever record two triple-doubles in one season and also the first to record multiple since Shabazz Napier. He has proven himself as a walking triple-double threat each time he steps on the hardwood and while it is unknown if Newton will return to Storrs for his final year of eligibility, Dan Hurley has an McDonald's All-American arriving in Stephon Castle who projects to have the same all-around impact from the point guard position.

Who could be the next UCONN Husky to record a triple-double?

Could Stephon Castle be the next Connecticut Husky to record a triple-double?

247sports.com

 

[Huskyforlife]

Not sure why Finkelstein wrote this article but figured I'd post it. Has a complete evaluation of Castle that he wrote previously.

With this performance, Newton is the first Husky to ever record two triple-doubles in one season and also the first to record multiple since Shabazz Napier. He has proven himself as a walking triple-double threat each time he steps on the hardwood and while it is unknown if Newton will return to Storrs for his final year of eligibility, Dan Hurley has an McDonald's All-American arriving in Stephon Castle who projects to have the same all-around impact from the point guard position.

Who could be the next UCONN Husky to record a triple-double?

Could Stephon Castle be the next Connecticut Husky to record a triple-double?

247sports.com

Well I guess we know where Fink thinks he’s playing.

 

[Umami Zen]

“ The first question in the Castle evaluation is whether he is a true point guard at the next level. He plays with the ball in his hands now and has shown a passing acumen, but seemed more natural as the athletic secondary playmaker with size during his stint with USA Basketball.“ Adam Finklestein.

That’s what I see when I watch him. He’s the best player on the floor 99% of the time in high school so he can play point guard or center if he wants - doesn’t translate that well to college hoop.

He’s a terrific player - he’s just not a point guard. Ideally, we’d have one - even tonight, we got a little sketchy when Marquette started to press because our best point guard, Newton, is a big combo. Gonna be an issue until it’s fixed.

I hear you..Think he projects as a CG/SG with great handles for college.. PG at next level.. IMO.. His Dad(also his AAU coach) has done an excellent job of getting him comfortable at an early age with the ball in his hands. In HS.. He is so much bigger and stronger than the guards defending him.. He makes it look pretty easy. In college he will be playing vs guys his size. Can he/could he play PG in college?? Of course.

Having said that.. Really glad he's coming to Storrs. Gives Hurley a lot of flexibility at the guard spot next year.

 

[MJKI]

Any info on a possible castle injury? Just posted an Instagram story with a wrapped hand. Looked like dominant hand thumb injury, hopefully just a sprain