2025 Recruiting: - Meleek Thomas to UConn Crystal Ball | Page 13 | The Boneyard

2025 Recruiting: Meleek Thomas to UConn Crystal Ball

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cohenzone said:
I am old enough to know the joke you are quoting and modern enough to say you might be better off retiring it to the dead file.
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Nope. The joke still works with kemo sabbe. I know where the line is, sounds like you are still working on it.
 
Waquoit said:
Nope. The joke still works with kemo sabbe. I know where the line is, sounds like you are still working on it.
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Nah, not nearly so pointed. Besides, i’d bet half this board has no clue what “kemo sabbe” refers to.
 
HuskyWarrior611 said:
I don’t know why we have to lie like this.

NBA scouts heading into the draft do not agree with this statement.

ESPN big board:

6. Stephon Castle | PG/SG | UConn​

6-7 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 6

It has been difficult for NBA teams to schedule Castle on the workout circuit, so it remains to be seen exactly where that will land him on draft night. Teams on his trail will be closely monitoring whether he decides to open up his availability in the coming weeks. He has been most strongly connected to San Antonio, but if the Spurs go a different direction with their two first-round picks, there will be suitors elsewhere in the top 10, with a potentially strong fit in the Utah Jazz.
There's quite a bit of interest in Castle's versatility, perimeter defense and playmaking potential long-term. There are also some questions about the state of his jump shot, and to a lesser extent, whether he can play point guard in a full-time capacity. His role in UConn's title run has certainly helped bolster his draft stock to this point. -- Woo


www.nytimes.com

NBA mock draft: Who's going No. 1? Why it's still unclear less than a week out

With less than one week until the 2024 NBA Draft, a lot remains unsettled, starting with the No. 1 pick. Has a new contender emerged?
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

Vecenie’s report:

6. Charlotte Hornets​

Stephon Castle | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut​

The Hornets’ pick is seen as another inflection point, as teams around the league are unclear on the direction new head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson will take. Peterson was an assistant GM in Brooklyn and Atlanta, and his teams made varied picks during his time there.

Instead, I have the Hornets drafting Castle to be a strong fit between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. My latest intel indicates Castle is likely to come off of the board somewhere between the No. 4 and No. 8 picks. He’s a tremendous defender with size and attributes that help teams win games. He got publicity at the NBA combine for saying he views himself as a point guard, but NBA teams largely classify him as a secondary playmaker who could grow into more on-ball reps in time.
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I mean, one of the quotes you just posted says that there's questions on if he can play PG and literally in the next sentence where you decided to stop putting it in bold says his role at UConn helped bolster his draft stock. That role was a PG
 
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HuskyWarrior611 said:
In general I kinda agree with you. If he went anywhere that allowed him to run the show the NBA would’ve been salivating at a 6’6 do it all PG with the IQ he has. Especially in a draft like this.

Not necessarily a team that lets him shoot more. But just a team that lets him show his ability to run a team and how he can make guys around him better.

But alas he can say he’s a champion and still be good enough to force his way back into his normal position going here. Because the kid was THAT great.
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If Steph went somewhere where he had the keys, say he stayed home at UGA, he goes lottery because of his size and playmaking. With his range varying depending on whether a team thinks he will ever shoot or defend.
 
HuskyWarrior611 said:
No he didn’t. It’s why NBA teams wondered if he could do it and why he himself said he was held back from showcasing that.

Hell, people on this very board wondered why he was so adamant about only playing PG in the NBA because he didn’t get a chance to demonstrate how great he was there.
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I’m confused. Did he not go 4th overall?
 
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runner11 said:
If Steph went somewhere where he had the keys, say he stayed home at UGA, he goes lottery because of his size and playmaking. With his range varying depending on whether a team thinks he will ever shoot or defend.
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I honestly don’t want to get to deep in this hole of where he would’ve went. I will say Anthony Edwards went #1 from there. Just as Cade went #1 from Oklahoma State.

Personally I think Castle is that level of talent. As I’ve been making clear since we got him.
 
you talking to me? Do you have a point? What the hell are you talking about. Why are you insulting me about being a PC fan?
 
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WhereistheDove? said:
Between the Andre Jackson nonsense last year and Castle this year, I’m just resigned to the fact that a certain contingent of our fan base just has no clue what “playing the point” means.
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I hear you. Steph played plenty of PG in HS/AAU.. Was a secondary ball handler with exceptional passing skills in the most dominate/efficient offense in CBB in his only year in college. And was the #4 draft pick in an offense needing a PG for the long term with a transformational NBA talent in Wemby. He is a multi-positional and can play either guard position in the NBA based on his team's needs. He's in a good spot.
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
No one wondered why he was adamant about playing his position in the NBA.
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I am not on board with his opinion on this topic so I don't want to jump in "on his side" but I must disagree with you here, there were quite a few saying he was not a PG and he'd have to be a wing in the NBA.

I know that because I was conductor of the "Castle Has Always Been A PG" Train and I got disagreements from a decent amount of people.
 
WhereistheDove? said:
Between the Andre Jackson nonsense last year and Castle this year, I’m just resigned to the fact that a certain contingent of our fan base just has no clue what “playing the point” means.
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Anyone who thought Andre Jackson playing PG went well is telling on themselves about how little they actually understand about what they’re watching.
 
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The boneyard talking about positionless basketball and how everyone is a PG:

 
HuskyWarrior611 said:
The boneyard talking about positionless basketball and how everyone is a PG:

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Would you rather we talk about player versatility? Would you grant that Stephon demonstrated versatility in his time at UConn? And that versatility is valued by the NBA?
 
HuskyWarrior611 said:
You don’t know what you’re watching. It’s okay.
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IMG_7644.jpeg
 
I dont know what’s a worse narrative. Everyone on our team plays PG or everyone needs to be able to shoot a 3 if they want to be somebody.

You’d think after watching guys like Kemba, Bazz, Boatright, Price, etc. we out of all fan bases would know there’s so much more into being a PG outside of being able to pass and initiate the offense every once in awhile.
 
HuskyWarrior611 said:
Anyone who thought Andre Jackson playing PG went well is telling on themselves about how little they actually understand about what they’re watching.
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Do you mind elaborating on this? Not trying to be argumentative, but the ball moved because of Andre. Andre had the best vision, the best instincts, the best everything except maybe not the tightest handle. He dribbled a little high and loose. TNew spent so much more time driving to the lane when Andre was in the game.

Once Dan Hurley figured out how to involve AJax on offense by being the primary ball handler/set up man, rather than sitting in the corner waiting for 3s and long rebounds (Xavier game comes to mind), UConn turned the corner and never looked back.
 
HuskyFich said:
Do you mind elaborating on this? Not trying to be argumentative, but the ball moved because of Andre. Andre had the best vision, the best instincts, the best everything except maybe not the tightest handle. He dribbled a little high and loose. TNew spent so much more time driving to the lane when Andre was in the game.

Once Dan Hurley figured out how to involve AJax on offense by being the primary ball handler/set up man, rather than sitting in the corner waiting for 3s and long rebounds (Xavier game comes to mind), UConn turned the corner and never looked back.
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Except Andre could not shoot. It kind of reminds me about the joke they used to say about Dennis Rodman shooting.
 
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