NBA Bound Stephan

[jibsey]

He’s going top 5 according to the gurus here, we have him for just this season. Can someone explain to me after watching last night how that happens?
Hurley pulled him in favor of Ball. Sloppy ball handling, shooting touch, it goes on. We know he will be much better but geez no dominant talent came in off that bench when he got in there, up till now. Hope it changes.

 

[Dutch Boyd]

They’re gonna tell you it’s the injury lol, but he’s got a ways to go. Definitely not going anywhere soon.

 

[husky429]

He’s going top 5 according to the gurus here, we have him for just this season. Can someone explain to me after watching last night how that happens?
Hurley pulled him in favor of Ball. Sloppy ball handling, shooting touch, it goes on. We know he will be much better but geez no dominant talent came in off that bench when he got in there, up till now. Hope it changes.

It's one game. One-and-dones are not often dominant on great teams.

If he plays like this the next 20 games? Yeah of course his stock will drop. That also isn't happening.

 

[Deleted at users request]

It isn’t going to be good for us perception wise if Castle has to come back a second year.

I’m not making any judgments on him until he’s starting again and has a solid role in the offense.

 

[navery12]

An NBA team will write his name on a card and hand it to Adam Silver. He'll come out to the podium and say with the number 5 pick in 2024 NBA Draft the _______ ________ select PG Stephon Castle, UConn. Then most of the board will congratulate him and a few boomers will say he sucks and needed to come back for 3 more seasons to work on his game

 

[imno1]

Everyone outside of Donovan had a bad game last night. We’re going to struggle if DC misses significant time but if he comes back and stays healthy we are still one of the best teams in the country. Some on this board found things to complain about while we were beating up on everyone by double digits so I expected the sky is falling mentality with this loss. Did last year not teach us that games like this happen. And since this is a Castle thread I’m in the “he’s only going to get better as the season progresses” camp

 

[cohenzone]

It's one game. One-and-dones are not often dominant on great teams.

If he plays like this the next 20 games? Yeah of course his stock will drop. That also isn't happening.

Seriously, how do you know? I’ve said I want to see how he does against the non-cupcakes. If he is what we are seeing now, the NBA scouts and GMs must be silly. I agree that it’s early, but if he seriously will be drafted based on high school, having been someone who hired lawyers, I would have been nuts to ignore how a person had handled law school. He played really well vs Stonybrook in the game I went to, also the game he was injured. Maybe that is what is affecting him , but he has a way to go. I’m definitely pulling for him.

 

[husky429]

It's hard to take complainers seriously when they can't even bother to spell a player's name correctly.

 

[GlastonTim]

He better step up his game to get picked at #5. I think he needs to start and live or die with him in there for 30 minutes a game. Confident in staff to put him in position for both him and team to be successful. I wish we were hearing stories of him shooting 500-1000 threes every day. Needs big minutes to get him in the flow.

 

[husky429]

Seriously, how do you know? I’ve said I want to see how he does against the non-cupcakes. If he is what we are seeing now, the NBA scouts and GMs must be silly. I agree that it’s early, but if he seriously will be drafted based on high school, having been someone who hired lawyers, I would have been nuts to ignore how a person had handled law school. He played really well vs Stonybrook in the game I went to, also the game he was injured. Maybe that is what is affecting him , but he has a way to go. I’m definitely pulling for him.

He could be run over by a semi-truck tomorrow for all we know. Of course I don't KNOW anything--it's just overwhelmingly unlikely he plays that poorly every night for the next 3 months.

 

[willie99]

It isn’t going to be good for us perception wise if Castle has to come back a second year.

Nonsense

I'm not making any other judgement, I'm not saying he's coming back, I agree it's way to early to call anything

I'm just saying this statement is nonsense

 

[nelsonmuntz]

An NBA team will write his name on a card and hand it to Adam Silver. He'll come out to the podium and say with the number 5 pick in 2024 NBA Draft the _______ ________ select PG Stephon Castle, UConn. Then most of the board will congratulate him and a few boomers will say he sucks and needed to come back for 3 more seasons to work on his game

You are missing a seismic change happening in college basketball. As college basketball becomes a man’s game instead of a boy’s game, you will see fewer NBA teams willing to burn high picks on projects that won’t develop for three years. A kid better be a top level talent, ready to contribute on day one, to one-and-done, or he could have an unpleasant draft night.

 

[cohenzone]

He could be run over by a semi-truck tomorrow for all we know. Of course I don't KNOW anything--it's just overwhelmingly unlikely he plays that poorly every night for the next 3 months.

As i said , we shall see. But do you agree that iif he is what we are seeing now that it is no slam dunk that it doesn’t matter and he will be a first round one and doner no matter? I just think it does matter, but i’m not a GM, thank the lord.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Nonsense

I'm not making any other judgement, I'm not saying he's coming back, I agree it's way to early to call anything

I'm just saying this statement is nonsense

It’s not going to be a good look if a projected top 10 pick comes back for another year the one chance we have with a one and done prospect. That’s the reality.

I’m not saying it will happen. I’m saying it’s something we should hope doesn’t happen. It will be a dock on our development pitch.

 

[husky429]

You are missing a seismic change happening in college basketball. As college basketball becomes a man’s game instead of a boy’s game, you will see fewer NBA teams willing to burn high picks on projects that won’t develop for three years. A kid better be a top level talent, ready to contribute on day one, to one-and-done, or he could have an unpleasant draft night.

lol, no

 

[cohenzone]

You are missing a seismic change happening in college basketball. As college basketball becomes a man’s game instead of a boy’s game, you will see fewer NBA teams willing to burn high picks on projects that won’t develop for three years. A kid better be a top level talent, ready to contribute on day one, to one-and-done, or he could have an unpleasant draft night.

The person you quoted is given to making sanctimonious pronouncements.

 

[Hunt for 7]

It's hard to take complainers seriously when they can't even bother to spell a player's name correctly.

Yes agreed first thing I noted. I do think he has lost some confidence or maybe he is tentative on the knee. That jump shot where he literally almost threw the ball through the backboard seemed to me as though he is thinking way too much. I hope he is not thinking to much because he is thinking about how to move or not move if he is favoring the injured knee. Just because the doctors and trainers say you are good I have played enough sports and come back from enough surgeries that it always takes awhile to stop thinking about it. The mental recovery is as difficult as the physical. And when you look at SC he looks like he is indestructible he almost knocked that SH guard out of the game when he ran into him.

 

[navery12]

Nonsense

I'm not making any other judgement, I'm not saying he's coming back, I agree it's way to early to call anything

I'm just saying this statement is nonsense

It's not nonsense, getting to the NBA is priority 1, 2 and 3 for the top 10-20 recruits every year. And that would be used by every single opposing coach in future recruitments, the same way Hurley would try to point to Bouknight and Hawkins when he's recruiting a 50th ranked guard

 

[JohnnyJr]

It’s not going to be a good look if a projected top 10 pick comes back for another year the one chance we have with a one and done prospect. That’s the reality.

I’m not saying it will happen. I’m saying it’s something we should hope doesn’t happen. It will be a dock on our development pitch.

It probably wouldn’t be a good look but Duke has had players come back and it isn’t hurting their recruiting.

 

[Psolo12]

You are missing a seismic change happening in college basketball. As college basketball becomes a man’s game instead of a boy’s game, you will see fewer NBA teams willing to burn high picks on projects that won’t develop for three years. A kid better be a top level talent, ready to contribute on day one, to one-and-done, or he could have an unpleasant draft night.

1	Victor Wembanyama	19.5	2004	Forward	7'4 ½"	232
2	Scoot Henderson	19.4	2004	Lead Guard	6'2"	195
3	Brandon Miller	20.6	Fr.	Wing	6'9"	200
4	Amen Thompson	20.4	2003	Combo Guard	6'7"	214
5	Ausar Thompson	20.4	2003	Wing	6'7"	218
6	Anthony Black	19.4	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'7"	210
7	Jarace Walker	19.8	Fr.	Forward	6'8"	249
8	Cam Whitmore	19.0	Fr.	Forward	6'7"	235
9	Taylor Hendricks	19.6	Fr.	Forward	6'9"	214
10	Gradey Dick	19.6	Fr.	Wing	6'7 ½"	204
11	Bilal Coulibaly	18.9	2004	Wing	6'8"	194
12	Dereck Lively II	19.4	Fr.	Big	7'1 ¼"	230
13	Kobe Bufkin	19.8	So.	Combo Guard	6'5 ½"	187
14	Cason Wallace	19.6	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'4"	195
15	Jordan Hawkins	21.1	So.	Wing	6'5"	186
16	Keyonte George	19.6	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'4"	204
17	Jalen Hood-Schifino	20.0	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'5 ½"	217
18	Nick Smith Jr.	19.2	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'5"	185
19	Jaime Jaquez Jr.	22.3	Sr.	Wing	6'7"	226
20	Jett Howard	19.8	Fr.	Wing	6'8"	215
21	Noah Clowney	18.9	Fr.	Big	6'10"	210
22	Brandin Podziemski	20.3	So.	Combo Guard	6'5 ½"	204
23	Kris Murray	22.8	Jr.	Forward	6'8 ½"	213
24	O-Max Prosper	21.0	Jr.	Wing	6'7 ½"	212
25	Leonard Miller	19.6	2003	Forward	6'10"	213
26	Dariq Whitehead	18.9	Fr.	Wing	6'7 ¼"	217
27	Brice Sensabaugh	19.6	Fr.	Forward	6'6"	235
28	Rayan Rupert	19.1	2004	Wing	6'7"	193
29	James Nnaji	18.9	2004	Big	6'10"	245

Ages of everyone drafted in the first round this past year. You couldn't be more wrong.

 

[Deleted at users request]

It probably wouldn’t be a good look but Duke has had players come back and it isn’t hurting their recruiting.

Duke is a different brand, unfortunately.

 

[PAHusky]

Castle giving me Michael Carter Williams vibes right now. He needs to figure out his shot and very, very fast. Even coming out of HS it was acknowledged for a top recruit that he had good but not outstanding athleticism. It's obvious against higher competition he's having more difficulty getting to the rim and with no threat of a j his passing is becoming incredibly predictable. To be fair to him, his on ball defense is fantastic and that was a question mark coming out of HS.

I don't know what Hurley can do with him. The injury derailed our shot to get him minutes against softer opponents to let him figure things out. I think he needs the ball in his hands but it kills the offense to do so and Big East play is not really where you want to be experimenting like that.

I think Dan Hurley is keeping Ball as a starter to let Castle get some run with the subs so he can lead the offense. I agree with that 100%, because Solo right now is almost as good of a defender, doesn't turn the ball over and his shot is at least on once in awhile.

I know the NBA drafts on potential but I don't see lottery right now. Plenty of season left though, and I've been wrong before (e.g. when Hawkins couldn't dribble I thought he'd be playing in China).

 

[navery12]

Duke is a different brand, unfortunately.

Also a little different when your "failure" is saying only 4 of 5 one and done guys entered the draft. No recruit thinks they'll be that 1 exception who didn't make it

 

[Deleted at users request]

1	Victor Wembanyama	19.5	2004	Forward	7'4 ½"	232
2	Scoot Henderson	19.4	2004	Lead Guard	6'2"	195
3	Brandon Miller	20.6	Fr.	Wing	6'9"	200
4	Amen Thompson	20.4	2003	Combo Guard	6'7"	214
5	Ausar Thompson	20.4	2003	Wing	6'7"	218
6	Anthony Black	19.4	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'7"	210
7	Jarace Walker	19.8	Fr.	Forward	6'8"	249
8	Cam Whitmore	19.0	Fr.	Forward	6'7"	235
9	Taylor Hendricks	19.6	Fr.	Forward	6'9"	214
10	Gradey Dick	19.6	Fr.	Wing	6'7 ½"	204
11	Bilal Coulibaly	18.9	2004	Wing	6'8"	194
12	Dereck Lively II	19.4	Fr.	Big	7'1 ¼"	230
13	Kobe Bufkin	19.8	So.	Combo Guard	6'5 ½"	187
14	Cason Wallace	19.6	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'4"	195
15	Jordan Hawkins	21.1	So.	Wing	6'5"	186
16	Keyonte George	19.6	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'4"	204
17	Jalen Hood-Schifino	20.0	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'5 ½"	217
18	Nick Smith Jr.	19.2	Fr.	Combo Guard	6'5"	185
19	Jaime Jaquez Jr.	22.3	Sr.	Wing	6'7"	226
20	Jett Howard	19.8	Fr.	Wing	6'8"	215
21	Noah Clowney	18.9	Fr.	Big	6'10"	210
22	Brandin Podziemski	20.3	So.	Combo Guard	6'5 ½"	204
23	Kris Murray	22.8	Jr.	Forward	6'8 ½"	213
24	O-Max Prosper	21.0	Jr.	Wing	6'7 ½"	212
25	Leonard Miller	19.6	2003	Forward	6'10"	213
26	Dariq Whitehead	18.9	Fr.	Wing	6'7 ¼"	217
27	Brice Sensabaugh	19.6	Fr.	Forward	6'6"	235
28	Rayan Rupert	19.1	2004	Wing	6'7"	193
29	James Nnaji	18.9	2004	Big	6'10"	245

Ages of everyone drafted in the first round this past year. You couldn't be more wrong.

As soon as you can go to the bar your stock goes down tremendously

 

[Deleted at users request]

Also a little different when your "failure" is saying only 4 of 5 one and done guys entered the draft. No recruit thinks they'll be that 1 exception who didn't make it

Flip said that? Interesting cope. Yeah only 80% of the guys. Nbd being the 20% who so happened to not be good enough.

 

[navery12]

Flip said that? Interesting cope. Yeah only 80% of the guys. Nbd being the 20% who so happened to not be good enough.

Nobody said that, just saying it's easier to walk into a living room when you have successes along with the failures. Most kids aren't thinking worst case scenario

 

[willie99]

It's not nonsense, getting to the NBA is priority 1, 2 and 3 for the top 10-20 recruits every year. And that would be used by every single opposing coach in future recruitments, the same way Hurley would try to point to Bouknight and Hawkins when he's recruiting a 50th ranked guard

It's nonsense

The program already has a great reputation for developing players. Emphasis in developing players. A high school kid that didn't produce as expected is not going to change that.

We never relied on one and done to begin with. My Avatar certainly didn't. Let the one and done players go to UK and now DOOK, where the program can be disappointing year after year.

Again, I'm not knocking Castle and want nothing but the best for him. But if he doesn't go lottery next year, it doesn't harm UConn whatsoever ever.

Losing games and not developing players would hurt more

 

[navery12]

It's nonsense

The program already has a great reputation for developing players. Emphasis in developing players. A high school kid that didn't produce as expected is not going to change that.

We never relied on one and done to begin with. My Avatar certainly didn't. Let the one and done players go to UK and now DOOK, where the program can be disappointing year after year.

Again, I'm not knocking Castle and want nothing but the best for him. But if he doesn't go lottery next year, it doesn't harm UConn whatsoever ever.

Losing games and not developing players would hurt more

You're completely missing the point of the discussion. Nobody is saying it's going to hurt UConn as a program. We're still going to win championships and have elite recruiting classes regardless. It's only going to hurt with getting in the door and closing on one and done recruits. Not the end of the world, but that would absolutely happen

 

[Deleted at users request]

Nobody said that, just saying it's easier to walk into a living room when you have successes along with the failures. Most kids aren't thinking worst case scenario

That makes more sense. Yeah Duke at this point has a long history of producing one and done and NBA guys. Whether Scheyer deserves the credit for it or not.

 

[UCan3]

While I think it’s waaaayyyy too early to start insinuating Castle is a bust, he did look absolutely lost out there last night. And frankly, Danny gave him more minutes than he should have.

Castle will find his way, and what better place to do this than Uconn, he’ll get there.