NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players to wear jersey No. 5 in 2023-24 season
By Joey Loose
2. Stephon Castle (Connecticut)
Reloading talent in the offseason is an important task for every team in the nation. Dan Hurley and his staff weren’t sitting on their hands last spring, and bringing Castle to campus is a big reason why the Huskies repeated as national champions. A five-star recruit from Georgia, Castle joined the defending champions and assumed a massive backcourt role as Connecticut marched to another championship this season.
Castle averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game for the Huskies, becoming a starter basically from the beginning. He wasn’t known for his outside shooting, but became a consistent scorer and contributor for this team. Castle was named Big East Rookie of the Year and lived up to preseason expectations, especially with his play in the postseason.
Among the notable moments during UConn’s title run, Castle had his first double-double against San Diego State, a career-high 21 points against Alabama, and added 15 points versus Purdue in the national title game. Even after missing time way earlier in November he put together a complete season that looked mighty impressive for a first-year collegiate player. Not to mention he lived the dream of winning a national championship as a key contributor.