Stephon Castle Should Have Been the #1 Overall Pick
University of Connecticut point guard Stephon Castle should have been the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. A few years from now NBA fans will look back and wonder why a 6 '6 point guard who won a national championship was passed up in favor of two unknown Europeans.
His Skillset
Castle’s size couples with his passing ability to create a prospect who can create his own shot but also dish out assists for his teammates. He’s a great athlete and is a solid defender. The three-point shot isn’t where it needs to be right now but he has good mechanics and plenty of players in the past have improved in that department. It's also important to remember that he’s just 19 years old.
Castle spent an entire season playing under infamously demanding head coach Danny Hurley. Connecticut’s culture promotes a team-first attitude so Castle will be prepared to prioritize winning. He’ll inherently be playing second-fiddle to Victor Wembanyama, so the fact that he spent a year sharing the ball and finding his role makes him a perfect fit for the San Antonio Spurs. Spending a year getting screamed at by a red-in-the-face Hurley no doubt prepares a young player for the demands of professional basketball.
Risacher, Sarr, and Sheppard
Will Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Reed Sheppard pan out? Maybe. Sheppard could end up being the best of the three, but the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards will probably end up regretting those picks years down the line. Castle won a national championship at one of the country’s best college basketball programs. The risk-to-reward ratio with the two European players makes those picks very questionable.
It’s not uncommon for teams to swing and miss on top prospects, but Castle falling to the fourth overall pick this year may end up going down as a particularly bad example of teams missing out on a player hiding in plain sight.
It wouldn't be shocking if Castle and Wembanyama are running the Western Conference in a few years.