By Nick Moyle, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-06-27 13:18:24
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024 年 6 月 26 日，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)在纽约市巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会上。（史蒂夫·艾希纳/WWD 通过盖蒂图片社拍摄）
马刺队参加了 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会，决心寻找一名年轻的控球后卫，与去年的状元秀、轰动一时的维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)搭档。他们最终以第四顺位选中了康涅狄格大学的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)。
以下是关于这位 19 岁后卫的五件事，他现在肩负着与文班亚马一起带领马刺重返 NBA 总决赛的重任。
1. 他在康涅狄格大学度过了一个历史性的 freshman 赛季。
尽管因为膝盖手术缺席了 11 月中旬到 12 月初的六场比赛，但卡斯尔打破了锡拉丘兹传奇人物卡梅隆·安东尼(Carmelo Anthony)的纪录，11 次获得大东联盟周最佳 freshman 球员。这也使他毫无悬念地全票当选大东联盟年度最佳 freshman 球员。
作为首发球员的 30 场比赛中，卡斯尔场均得到 11.9 分，投篮命中率为 47.8%，还有 5 个篮板、2.9 次助攻和 0.8 次抢断。他所在的球队阵容强大，还有中锋多诺万·克林根(Donovan Clingan)（被波特兰开拓者队以第七顺位选中）和全美最佳阵容的后卫特里斯坦·牛顿(Tristen Newton)，卡斯尔在进攻篮板球方面排名第二，助攻排名第三，得分和篮板球均排名第五。
2. 他在大学期间只输了两场比赛，并一路杀入 NCAA 锦标赛。
在卡斯尔的帮助下，哈士奇队取得了 34 胜 2 负的战绩。这两场失利都发生在客场的联盟比赛中，一场是 12 月 20 日以 75-60 输给塞顿霍尔大学，另一场是 2 月 20 日以 66-85 惨败给排名第 15 位的克莱顿大学。
最后一场惨败成为了球队赛季末历史性统治级表现的催化剂。康涅狄格大学在接下来的 13 场比赛中取得全胜，场均净胜对手 22.5 分，势如破竹地连续第二次夺得全国冠军。
卡斯尔在康涅狄格大学横扫季后赛的过程中发挥了关键作用，在六场比赛中，他场均得到 12.5 分，投篮命中率为 49.1%，还有 5.7 个篮板、2.8 次助攻，仅有 1.3 次失误。他在最终四强中表现出色，场均得到 18 分、5 个篮板、2.5 次助攻和 1 次抢断。
3. 他的父亲曾与蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)一起在维克森林大学打球。
在此之前，“斯泰西·卡斯尔(Stacey Castle)”这个名字对马刺球迷来说可能没什么意义。但现在应该有了。
斯蒂芬的父亲斯泰西曾在 1992 年至 1994 年间在维克森林大学打球。在大二赛季之前，“恶魔执事”队从美属维尔京群岛引进了一位身高 7 英尺的球员，他后来成为了圣安东尼奥的偶像和 NBA 历史上最伟大的球星之一。
没错，卡斯尔的父亲曾是蒂姆·邓肯在维克森林大学的队友。斯泰西在那之后转学，并在经历了一个红衫赛季后，成为了一名首发后卫，帮助中佛罗里达大学以 16 号种子的身份打入了 NCAA 锦标赛，这仅仅是该校历史上第二次。
4. 在进入康涅狄格大学之前，他曾是麦当劳全美最佳阵容球员和美国队金牌得主。
卡斯尔在科温顿高中（佐治亚州）结束了他的高中生涯，被认为是全国最顶尖的新人之一。这位身高 6 英尺 6 英寸的后卫在高四赛季场均得到 20.1 分、9.5 个篮板、4.8 次助攻、3 次抢断和 2 次盖帽，最终成为了一致认可的五星级高中生和麦当劳全美最佳阵容球员。
卡斯尔还在 2022 年入选美国篮球队，帮助美国 U18 国家队在墨西哥举行的 FIBA U18 美洲锦标赛上夺得金牌。
5. 他迫不及待地想与卢卡·东契奇(Luka Doncic)交手。
在选秀前接受 Bleacher Report 采访时，卡斯尔被问及作为一名新秀，他最期待与哪位现役 NBA 球员交手。这位少年没有选择轻松的回答，而是说出了达拉斯独行侠队的超级球星卢卡·东契奇(Luka Doncic)的名字。
“他可能是现在联盟中最好的球员，”卡斯尔在谈到这位五次入选 NBA 最佳阵容一阵的后卫时说道。“所以刚进入联盟，我觉得我想和他竞争。”
2024 年 6 月 26 日，纽约州纽约市，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在布鲁克林区的巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会上，在第一轮被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后做出反应。（莎拉·施蒂尔/盖蒂图片社拍摄）
2024 年 6 月 26 日，星期三，在胜利资本表演中心外举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会首轮观看派对上，头顶的屏幕显示马刺队以第四顺位选中了康涅狄格大学后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔。
2024 年 6 月 26 日，在纽约市巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会上，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在第一轮被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后做出反应？
2024 年 6 月 26 日，纽约州纽约市，在布鲁克林区的巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会第一轮比赛中，康涅狄格大学哈士奇队主教练丹·赫尔利(Dan Hurley)与斯蒂芬·卡斯尔和多诺万·克林根交谈。
2024 年 6 月 26 日，在纽约市巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会上，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（右）在第一轮被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后，与 NBA 总裁亚当·萧华（左）握手？
2024 年 6 月 26 日，在纽约市巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会上，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在第一轮被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后，与多诺万·克林根庆祝。
2024 年 6 月 26 日，星期三，在纽约巴克莱中心举行的 NBA 选秀大会第一轮比赛中，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（右）在被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后，与 NBA 总裁亚当·萧华合影留念。
2024 年 4 月 8 日，亚利桑那州格伦代尔，康涅狄格大学哈士奇队的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（5 号）在州立农场体育场举行的 NCAA 男子篮球锦标赛决赛中以 75-60 击败普渡大学锅炉工队后，正在剪彩网。
点击查看原文：5 things to know about Spurs draftee Stephon Castle
5 things to know about Spurs draftee Stephon Castle
Stephon Castle at the 2024 NBA Draft held at the Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Eichner/WWD via Getty Images)
The Spurs entered the 2024 NBA draft determined to find a young lead guard to pair with last year’s No. 1 overall pick, the sensational Victor Wembanyama. They did just that by selecting UConn’s Stephon Castle fourth overall.
Here are a five things to know about the 19-year-old guard now tasked with getting the Spurs back to the NBA Finals alongside Wembanyama.
1. He had a historic freshman season at UConn.
Despite missing six games while recovering from a minor knee procedure from mid-November to early-December, Castle broke Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony’s record by winning Big East Freshman of the Week 11 times. That made him a lock to win Big East Freshman of the Year in a unanimous vote.
In 30 games as a starter, Castle averaged 11.9 points on 47.8% shooting, five rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.8 steals. Playing on a loaded team that also featured center Donovan Clingan, picked seventh overall by Portland, and All-American senior guard Tristen Newton, Castle ranked second in offensive rebounds, third in assists, and fifth in points and rebounds per game.
2. He lost just two games in college en route to a national championship.
The Huskies went 34-2 with Castle in the lineup. Both of those losses came on the road in conference play, a 75-60 defeat at Seton Hall on Dec. 20 and an 85-66 letdown at No. 15 Creighton on Feb. 20.
That last blowout served as a catalyst for a historically dominant season-ending run. UConn went on to win its final 13 outings, outscoring opponents by 22.5 points per game while steamrolling its way to a second straight national championship.
Castle played a key role as UConn rampaged through the bracket, averaging 12.5 points on 49.1% shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and just 1.3 turnovers in over six games. And he was nails in the Final Four, posting 18 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal per game.
3. His father played alongside Tim Duncan at Wake Forest.
Before now, the name “Stacey Castle” probably didn’t mean much to Spurs fans. It should now.
Stacey, father of Stephon, played college ball at Wake Forest from 1992-94. Ahead of his sophomore season, the Demon Deacons brought in a 7-footer from the U.S. Virgin Islands that would go on to become both a San Antonio icon and one of the most decorated NBA stars of all time.
Yes, Castle’s father spent one year as Tim Duncan’s teammate at Wake Forest. Stacey ended up transferring following that season and, following a redshirt year, emerged as a starting guard to help Central Florida reach the NCAA tournament as a No. 16 seed for just the second time in school history.
4. Before arriving at UConn, he was a McDonald’s All-American and Team USA gold medalist.
Castle ended his prep career at Covington High School (Georgia) regarded as one of the top recruits in the nation.The 6-foot-6 guard blossomed into a unanimous five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American after averaging 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.8 rebounds, three steals and two blocks as a senior.
Castle also spent some time with USA Basketball in 2022, helping the United States under-18 team capture gold at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Mexico.
5. He can’t wait to match up against Luka Doncic.
In a pre-draft interview with Bleacher Report, Castle was asked which current NBA player he’s most looking forward to matchup up against as a rookie. The teenager certainly didn’t take the easy way out by naming Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.
“Probably is the best player in the league right now,” Castle said of the Mavericks’ five-time All-NBA first team guard. “So just coming in, I feel like that’s somebody I’d want to compete against.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Stephon Castle reacts after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The overhead screen shows the Spurs selection of UConn guard Stephon Castle as the #4 pick at the watch party for the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft outside the Victory Capital Performance Center on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Stephon Castle reacts after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Uconn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley speaks with Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Stephon Castle (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.?
Stephon Castle celebrates with Donovan Clingan after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Stephon Castle, right, shakes poses for photos with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - APRIL 08: Stephon Castle #5 of the Connecticut Huskies cuts down the net after beating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-60 to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.
By Nick Moyle, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News