Big East Basketball: 10 biggest questions for league entering 2023-24 season

Who will emerge as Big East Basketball’s top freshman?

We’re truly spoiled for talent in the Big East this season – and this year’s class of new recruits are no exception.

Let’s start with the clear-cut favorite in this category: UConn’s Stephon Castle. The 6’6” guard out of Newton High School is a consensus five-star recruit with a deep bag of tricks. In his senior season, Castle filled up the stat sheet with 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game, en route to becoming a McDonald’s All-American.

We’ve seen glimpses of how Castle’s game will translate to the college level during UConn’s three-game summer foreign tour. And boy, he did not disappoint. Castle led his team in scoring with a staggering 16.7 points per game, while shooting 42.9 percent from long-range and 60 percent overall. On the defensive side of the ball, his long frame wreaked havoc on opposing scorers to the tune of 2.3 steals per game in a very small sample size.

While Castle’s elite skillset is certainly dazzling, there’s certainly a few more candidates to take the crown as the conference’s top freshman.

Garwey Dual, a 6’5″ combo guard hailing from Southern California Academy, holds a four-star prospect ranking and has an excellent chance to show his new coach Kim English why many are forecasting him as a potential lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. In his senior season of high school, Dual delivered an average of 16 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals per game, culminating in an invitation to participate in the Nike Hoop Summit as a member of the World Select roster.

During his tenure in high school basketball, this guard has honed a formidable blend of length and athleticism while maintaining a scoring-oriented approach. Dual’s explosive speed and impressive repertoire of dribble moves make him a formidable presence when attacking opposing defenders. However, his 190-pound physique may somewhat limit his ability to drive to the basket during his freshman season. On the defensive end of the court, Dual’s active hands and relentless pursuit of the ball can create chaos for opponents attempting to gain an advantage against him.

There’s also Solomon Ball, one of the five true freshmen included on UConn’s 2023-24 roster. His journey to Connecticut follows an impressive high school career, highlighted by his 16.3 points per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 84.2 percent from the foul line during his senior year at Brewster Academy.

As a consensus Top 60 recruit, Ball stands out as a left-handed combo guard known for his lightning-quick speed and exceptional athleticism. He boasts a remarkable vertical leap of 43 inches and an impressive 7-foot wingspan, drawing comparisons to a young Russell Westbrook. Ball’s promising talent was on full display during UConn’s three-game foreign tour in August, where he garnered substantial playing time and averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game.

While Stephon Castle may still steal the headlines as UConn’s flashy freshman, keep an eye on Ball to sneak his way into conversation by year’s end.

Honourable mentions go out to Simeon Wilcher, Jaylin Stewart, Trey Green and Tre Norman, who all cracked the list of top-100 freshmen entering the NCAA this season. While preseason rankings and past accolades are useful to help project who will capture the Big East Freshman of the Year award, only time will tell which of these young talents are true superstars in the making.