2024 NBA Draft: Ranking the top point guard prospects, including UConn’s Stephon Castle

Yahoo Sports is breaking down the top players in the 2024 NBA Draft by position this week. First up, the point guards, led by UConn’s Stephon Castle, who is projected inside the top 5 and has elected to turn down workouts with teams that already have established floor generals.

This class also features a number of smaller guards who were productive during the college season and could be first- or second-round picks. Here are the five best lead guards projected in the draft, along with others to watch who could lead second units next season. The NBA Draft will take place in New York on June 26-27.

1. Stephon Castle

Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 215 pounds | Age: 19

The UConn freshman has been one of the biggest risers during the pre-draft process and with how well he closed out the college season, helping lead the Huskies to back-to-back titles. Castle started the season late following a knee injury and struggled to find his shooting rhythm, but he was incredible in the final two games of the season. In UConn’s win over Alabama, Castle finished with 21 points (7-for-13 from the field) and shot 2-for-6 from 3-point range. In the championship game, Castle played both on and off the ball and had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. He was also one of the best defensive guards in college basketball tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player all season.

Stephon Castle was one of the best defenders in college basketball this season. (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

During the combine, Castle showed off an improved 3-point jumper (after shooting just 26.7% from 3) and finished third overall in the 3-point star shooting drill (18-for-25). He has good size at 6-foot-6 and the potential to be one of the best two-way lead guards in this draft class. Castle could go as high as No. 2 to the Washington Wizards and is thought to be a target for the Spurs, Rockets and Hornets, who are all drafting in the top six.

2. Nikola Topić

Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 201 pounds | Age: 18

Topić is starting to fall toward the back end of the lottery after it was revealed he has a partially torn ACL and measured at only…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-10 14:13:06

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