Connecticut Huskies guard Stephon Castle (5). Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

After winning a national title with UConn, freshman guard Stephon Castle is going pro, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports that Castle is entering the 2024 NBA Draft and hiring agents Joe Smith and Thad Foucher of Wasserman for representation.

In his first and only college season, Castle started 30 of 34 games for the Huskies, averaging 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27.0 minutes per contest with a shooting line of .472/.267/.755.

Castle was at his best during the Final Four, racking up 36 total points (on 50 percent shooting) and 10 rebounds in victories over Alabama and Purdue en route to Connecticut’s second consecutive national title.

The 6-foot-6 wing intrigued NBA evaluators throughout the season due to his willingness to accept a complementary role on a talented UConn team, his toughness as a rebounder and his play on defense, according to Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony, who note that Castle was often tasked with slowing down the opponent’s top perimeter scorer.

Castle currently ranks ninth overall on ESPN’s big board, making him a probable lottery pick. Wojnarowski suggests the youngster is “one of the fastest rising players” on draft boards and could make his way into the top half of the lottery.

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