Stephon Castle, what makes him special...

[Huskybass]

It's basically a forgone conclusion that Stephon Castle will be the NBA Rookie of the Year. Although I'm not a huge NBA guy, I enjoy watching the UConn guys when I can.

When I watch Castle play, 2 things jump out at me about his game:

1. He has unwavering focus;
2. His handles and body control allow him to get wherever he wants to go on the court;

The kid is just a joy to watch.

 

[husky429]

He'll be a multi-time All-Star if he can turn 29% from deep into 35%. It's not easy but a lot of guys do it. Jordan Poole comes to mind.

Could easily see him averaging 25/6/6 consistently and winning chips with Wemby

 

[Kenny11]

His natural/functional strength is incredible. He can physically bully nba veterans

 

[ctbro1999]

He'll be a multi-time All-Star if he can turn 29% from deep into 35%. It's not easy but a lot of guys do it. Jordan Poole comes to mind.

Could easily see him averaging 25/6/6 consistently and winning chips with Wemby

Yeah, he gets his 3pt% into the mid-30's, it'll just open up all other facets of his offensive game. He can already get to the rim even with defenders playing off of him at the 3-pt line, imagine what he can do when they have to faceguard him. He'll be able to posterize a guy every night at least.

 

[RichZ]

His command over his movements is uncanny. Changes of speed and/or direction at the same instant, befuddle defenders. Add in the ability to go high for a board or a dunk from pretty much anywhere within 8 feet of the rim whether moving or from a standing start, and you've got something special. He's just plain fun to watch.

 

[Waquoit]

It's basically a forgone conclusion that Stephon Castle will be the NBA Rookie of the Year.

When? I wanna cash!

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

He'll be a multi-time All-Star if he can turn 29% from deep into 35%. It's not easy but a lot of guys do it. Jordan Poole comes to mind.

Could easily see him averaging 25/6/6 consistently and winning chips with Wemby

Such speculative high praise (with requisite qualification) from a discerning & opinionated observer prods me to say, "Really??," but much more in an excited/wowed/no-shade way than with skepticism...seriously.

I'd love to be able to say, "I remember watching him airball free throws."

 

[AZHuskiePop]

It's basically a forgone conclusion that Stephon Castle will be the NBA Rookie of the Year. Although I'm not a huge NBA guy, I enjoy watching the UConn guys when I can.

When I watch Castle play, 2 things jump out at me about his game:

1. He has unwavering focus;
2. His handles and body control allow him to get wherever he wants to go on the court;

The kid is just a joy to watch.

I posted the first time I saw him drive horizontally across the lane that the game is in slow motion as he was completely under control weighing multiple options . It blew me away how gifted he was . I understood then the one and done rep all other weaker aspects of his game were almost irrelevant.
That’s a special God given ability that’s rare
Peooole like Magic and some of the great mostly but not exclusively guards possessed and some soccer greats like Messi also had this gift.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I just really hope he follows the Cade, SGA archetype for guards. He can be so special.

To be like them he has to be able to use his body in the post and midrange. He's going to be able to dominate there like those guys do. While being both bigger and more athletic.

 

[Kitaman]

Imagine that Stephon a year ago was not even the best player on his team in college! I credit UConn coaching staff for his rapid progress and ascent to NBA stardom.

Castle was NBA ready, you can tell. Its more than talent, its the ability to listen to experts (Coaches), accept roles on team (not the star), exercise humility (star freshman comfortable in the background) and continue working on your craft for one goal . . to be the best.

He came to UConn with all that in an NBA ready body and encompassed all the intangibles.

At UConn he was the perfect clay and still is! I'm going to watch him, because in 5 years I see a Kawhi Leonard trajectory when his NBA sculpture is done and he kills it in the league.

 

[husky429]

Imagine that Stephon a year ago was not even the best player on his team in college! I credit UConn coaching staff for his rapid progress and ascent to NBA stardom.

The thing is that Steph COULD have been the best player on the team, but it wouldn't have made us the best team in the country, if that makes sense. He had the talent to be a top PG in the country. He chose to be a team player and put winning first rather than his ego. For us to win a national championship we needed the ball in Tristen and Cam's hands too so we were a triple threat at the guard spot.

That says a hell of a lot about Steph's character, and is probably a big reason why a franchise as locked in as the Spurs prioritized him.

 

[auror]

His brain moves fast enough for him to be able to play slow.

 

[cullaville]

He'll be a multi-time All-Star if he can turn 29% from deep into 35%. It's not easy but a lot of guys do it. Jordan Poole comes to mind.

Could easily see him averaging 25/6/6 consistently and winning chips with Wemby

winning chips - does he spend a lot of time in casinos?

 

[3rdbass]

Imagine that Stephon a year ago was not even the best player on his team in college! I credit UConn coaching staff for his rapid progress and ascent to NBA stardom.

Castle was NBA ready, you can tell. Its more than talent, its the ability to listen to experts (Coaches), accept roles on team (not the star), exercise humility (star freshman comfortable in the background) and continue working on your craft for one goal . . to be the best.

He came to UConn with all that in an NBA ready body and encompassed all the intangibles.

At UConn he was the perfect clay and still is! I'm going to watch him, because in 5 years I see a Kawhi Leonard trajectory when his NBA sculpture is done and he kills it in the league.

I see more of a SGA trajectory thank Leonard. The thing is he is a better athlete than SGA so he has a lot of potential.

 

[ctbro1999]

His brain moves fast enough for him to be able to play slow.

That's one criticism of him (before getting drafted) that I didn't understand, that being he wasn't "super" athletic. I think a lot of that criticism stemmed from the fact he played so smoothly and under control it masked how athletic he actually is. Now with an NBA season under his belt, everyone knows that he's pretty freaking athletic. Lol

 

[REB1094]

Over the course of NBA history, certain moves get attributed to certain players making them super popular. Think Manu eurostep, Dirk one legged fade, Jordan/Kobe turnaround fade, Harden double stepback, CP3 getting defenders on his hip, etc etc

Castle has nearly mastered the super hesi. There’s countless clips of him driving to the hoop and hesitating for a full second on his 2nd step. Leads to guys flying past him and him getting easy layups. Keep an eye out for that move gaining traction

 

[TheChamps990411]

Could easily see him averaging 25/6/6 consistently and winning chips with Wemby

Thats exactly what i said. His shooting will get better to go along with everything else he does and he will be a very, very good player who will play regularly in All Star games.

 

[Ewekon]

Over the course of NBA history, certain moves get attributed to certain players making them super popular. Think Manu eurostep, Dirk one legged fade, Jordan/Kobe turnaround fade, Harden double stepback, CP3 getting defenders on his hip, etc etc

Castle has nearly mastered the super hesi. There’s countless clips of him driving to the hoop and hesitating for a full second on his 2nd step. Leads to guys flying past him and him getting easy layups. Keep an eye out for that move gaining traction

Eurostep 1.0? Chris Smith.

 

[Scottzer]

Two nice videos breaking down Steph’s O and D.

 

[Fishy]

He's very, very good at basketball.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Castle is an elite prospect. He is inefficient right now scoring, it he is going to turn into a more explosive Jrue Holiday type. Not as quick as SGA. So let’s stop that, but more power. Once that jumper comes around….

 

[Scottzer]

Is he our best defensive guard since Ricky Moore? But, getter my to prove it in the NBA….

I think he’s my second favorite UConn player, only behind Kemba. And, that’s a tough measuring stick. But, for a kid to come in for one year, play ridiculous d, be underutilized on O - only b/c the team was so great - and no complaints. What a teammate.

I know the boneyard hates Goodman, but, he actually said he was thinking Castle for the first pick in his draft.

 

[3rdbass]

Castle is an elite prospect. He is inefficient right now scoring, it he is going to turn into a more explosive Jrue Holiday type. Not as quick as SGA. So let’s stop that, but more power. Once that jumper comes around….

He is way quicker and athletic than SGA. Stop with that BS. SGA is alright athlete but not in Castle's stratosphere. If you watch the NBA playoffs you know SGA uses strength to get by his man and not quickness. Castle has more of both strength and quickness.

 

[dennismenace]

Imagine that Stephon a year ago was not even the best player on his team in college! I credit UConn coaching staff for his rapid progress and ascent to NBA stardom.

Castle was NBA ready, you can tell. Its more than talent, its the ability to listen to experts (Coaches), accept roles on team (not the star), exercise humility (star freshman comfortable in the background) and continue working on your craft for one goal . . to be the best.

He came to UConn with all that in an NBA ready body and encompassed all the intangibles.

At UConn he was the perfect clay and still is! I'm going to watch him, because in 5 years I see a Kawhi Leonard trajectory when his NBA sculpture is done and he kills it in the league.

I get the sense that Stephon's parents and his upbringing were the foundation and Uconn exposed him to an ideal intermediate phase of his development leading to the League as a one and done. He was completely ready for that move and his upside has no limits because of his character, focus and athleticism. How about having Dan Hurley, Kimani et al for coaches and playing along side Cam and Tristen as team mates? I hope he stays healthy because his best years are ahead of him and his future is so bright.

 

[BuffaloHusky]

Castle reminds me so much of the Thunder wings and I tend to think his best comps are somewhere between Jaylen Williams and Lu Dort. That's not to say, he can't be more dynamic offensively than both but regardless, he translates to an incredible player who can be 2nd or 3rd best player on a championship team.