UConn guard Stephon Castle reacts after scoring during the first half of a second-round college basketball game against Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in New York. UConn guard Stephon Castle dunks over Alabama forward Grant Nelson during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game at the Final Four, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.
Castle’s had a handful of standout offensive performances over the past few months. He scored 21 points on 9 of 12 shooting in a win over Seton Hall on March 3, avenging one of the team’s few losses from earlier in the season. He also had 16 points and 11 rebounds against San Diego State in the Sweet 16.
One reason is he’s also good on the defensive end, using his 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame to make life tough on opposing perimeter players. He has soaked up UConn’s winning culture in a hurry. “I remember my first recruiting visit, going to practice, and seeing how hard he coached the guys,” Castle said. “That’s the kind of coach I wanted to play for. I’d been playing for my dad and he was always on me, keeping me as accountable as possible.”