Steph Castle declares

[JB75]

Congrats and Great for him for sure, but so bittersweet that we only had him and cam for a year. Easily could make the case that castle and Cam were 2 of the top few players to ever come to this program, Imagine 1 or 2 more years with those guys? Wudda been amazing

 

[87Xfer]

With this many kids exiting, you have to ask are there clubhouse issues?

Hurley's clearly lost the locker room.

 

[Incursio007]

LOVE this kid! Can't wait to get NBA league pass and start watching all our guys blossom into stars

 

[JB75]

Congrats and Great for him for sure, but so bittersweet that we only had him and cam for a year. Easily could make the case that castle and Cam were 2 of the top few players to ever come to this program, Imagine 1 or 2 more years with those guys? Wudda been amazing

Meant to say top one year players of all time. Lol

 

[auror]

I don't remember a player ever changing his game to fit the team's needs in one year more than Steph did this year.

In HS/AAU he was an on ball creator. He played alongside a PG at times, but he was mostly running the show. Running pick and rolls, initiating offense, taking pull up off-the-dribble jumpers.

He did very little of that at UConn. Instead, he turned in one of the most impressive perimeter defensive performances in the history of the NCAA tournament. He became a cutter and a screener and a cog in the machine. He filled the shoes of a top 40 junior NBA draft pick seamlessly (and maybe then some).

Unbelievable. He'll probably go the NBA and show them the other stuff he can do that he did in HS. Some fans are going to be pretty surprised. But he's so much more well-rounded now. He can pretty much do anything on a basketball court you need him to do. On ball, off ball. Passing, cutting, moving. Perimeter stopper, versatile and can switch. The full package. UConn legend.

 

[UC4L]

OMG our team is falling apart, what are we going to do????!

 

[CL82]

I may have to start watching the NBA, but will probably just remain a box score lurker…

Or 5-10 minutes drive by viewer.

 

[Brochacho]

Obvious move. Thanks for the title.

 

[NJHoops]

“Me season” is heart-wrenching but also very rewarding, in its own way. From dream chasers to dream achievers! Go be great, 5. You deserve it all

 

[CL82]

As Adama would say- When Steph stepped on campus last June-Said he wanted to be one and done. He is.

"He thought he could lead the team to a national championship in become an NBA lottery pick. He could."

 

[gsmooth]

Best of luck in The League, Stephon and thanks for choosing UConn and bringing another National Championship

 

[UCann]

The best freshman season I’ve ever seen a UConn player have.

Get the bag, legend!

I am torn between Steph's season and Caron's. Caron carried that team and averaged 15 and 8. Obviously did not win a title, though, and Steph has an edge on defense. Different impacts, but amazing seasons.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Go get yours. Future dictionaries are going to define "Win-Win" as "Stephon Castle at UConn".

 

[MDHuskFan]

Congrats to Steph, earned everything he got.

As much as I’ll miss Steph, I’ll miss his family equally as much. Just great representatives of the University.

 

[uchusky32]

Good for him. He will benefit UConn recruiting for the next 10 years.

 

[JungleLobo]

5 starters enter, everyone leaves.

 

[uconngb]

With this many kids exiting, you have to ask are there clubhouse issues?

Seat underneath Hurley is clearly getting warm…..so much roster turnover last 2 years.

 

[Jaydumo20]

The standard for all of our freshmen, actually, all cbb freshmen, going fwd.
Unselfish, class, worker, beast!
My guy

 

[JungleLobo]

Seat underneath Hurley is clearly getting warm…..so much roster turnover last 2 years.

Wasn’t this a contributing factor to 2012’s problem with the Academic Progress Rate (APR) and led to the 2013 ban from the tourney?

 

[ec33]

Special player. Hard to do the one-and-done better and with more class.

 

[3rdbass]

My favorite player on this year's team. I'm so happy to see him develop into a bonafide scorer during the tournament. We wouldn't of won #6 without him. Thanks for #6 @Castle and I'm sure you will be a star NBA player. Now i just need to get Castle jersey. LOL!

 

[CL82]

Seat underneath Hurley is clearly getting warm…..so much roster turnover last 2 years.

Why can't he keep kids 4 years?

 

[Henry]

Sad to see him, and his parents, go, but it's the right decision for him. Thanks for helping us get #6. Best of luck in the NBA.

 

[HuskyFich]

I am torn between Steph's season and Caron's. Caron carried that team and averaged 15 and 8. Obviously did not win a title, though, and Steph has an edge on defense. Different impacts, but amazing seasons.

Caron is the only other one that competes. Shabazz was impactful his freshman year, but not dominant and shutting down star players.

Caron Per 40:

Season	School	Conf	Class	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2000-01	UConn	Big East	FR	29	28	950	6.4	14.6	.435	5.8	12.7	.455	0.6	1.9	.304	5.4	7.2	.754	9.3	3.7	2.7	0.4	2.9	3.2	18.7

Stephon per 40:

Season	School	Conf	Class	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2023-24	UConn	Big East	FR	34	30	918	6.0	12.6	.472	5.1	9.4	.544	0.9	3.3	.267	3.6	4.8	.755	6.9	4.3	1.2	0.8	2.2	3.6	16.4

The glaringly obvious is Caron was the go to guy. Castle did this as the 5th option.

Absolutely insane.

 

[Scoe]

Well deserved, a special player and special person. A 19 year old kid with the poise of a 25 year old. Such an unselfish teammate and coachable player who never showed any ego with his stature.

Looking forward to seeing him at the next level, will be great to see him represent our program going forward, paving the way to show one and done guys this is what you can be if you play a year under Hurley. Once a husky always a husky, hopefully we see him and his family at our games from time to time.

 

[Scoe]

Caron is the only other one that competes. Shabazz was impactful his freshman year, but not dominant and shutting down star players.

Caron Per 40:

Season	School	Conf	Class	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2000-01	UConn	Big East	FR	29	28	950	6.4	14.6	.435	5.8	12.7	.455	0.6	1.9	.304	5.4	7.2	.754	9.3	3.7	2.7	0.4	2.9	3.2	18.7

Stephon per 40:

Season	School	Conf	Class	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2023-24	UConn	Big East	FR	34	30	918	6.0	12.6	.472	5.1	9.4	.544	0.9	3.3	.267	3.6	4.8	.755	6.9	4.3	1.2	0.8	2.2	3.6	16.4

The glaringly obvious is Caron was the go to guy. Castle did this as the 5th option.

Absolutely insane.

Jeremy Lamb too he had to be a number 2 guy to Kemba in March.

 

[HooperScooper]

5 starters enter, everyone leaves.

The price of success

 

[MyDorona]

Caron is the only other one that competes. Shabazz was impactful his freshman year, but not dominant and shutting down star players.

Caron Per 40:

Season	School	Conf	Class	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2000-01	UConn	Big East	FR	29	28	950	6.4	14.6	.435	5.8	12.7	.455	0.6	1.9	.304	5.4	7.2	.754	9.3	3.7	2.7	0.4	2.9	3.2	18.7

Stephon per 40:

Season	School	Conf	Class	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2023-24	UConn	Big East	FR	34	30	918	6.0	12.6	.472	5.1	9.4	.544	0.9	3.3	.267	3.6	4.8	.755	6.9	4.3	1.2	0.8	2.2	3.6	16.4

The glaringly obvious is Caron was the go to guy. Castle did this as the 5th option.

Absolutely insane.

For my money, Caron is the best freshman to ever wear the Husky Blue, but he was a man-child. Castle might be second, but don't sleep on the guy in my profile pic. Look at this efficiency!!!

Season	School	Conf	Class	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS		SOS
1993-94	UConn	Big East	FR	34	34	30.5	4.1	8.2	.505	2.7	4.6	.583	1.5	3.6	.407	2.1	2.6	.809			3.8	4.8	2.3	0.2	2.6	2.6	11.9		6.26

 

[MyDorona]

Let's have fun and do a modern era (1990-pres) Freshman starting five. I got:

PG Doron
SG Ray
SF Castle
PF Caron
C Emeka

 

[1999GoodSon]

First time I laid eyes on him was at the preseason open practice. I kept saying to my son, this kid is serious business. Straight up baller. Perfect temperament. My favorite thing about him? Whenever Steph would go for a loose ball, you just knew it was his.
Fair winds and following seas young man!