{"id":21394,"date":"2023-10-14T21:48:06","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T20:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.courant.com\/?p=5928563"},"modified":"2023-10-17T10:55:55","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T09:55:55","slug":"dan-hurleys-vision-for-stephon-castles-fit-with-uconn-mens-basketball-notes-from-first-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/14\/dan-hurleys-vision-for-stephon-castles-fit-with-uconn-mens-basketball-notes-from-first-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Dan Hurley\u2019s vision for Stephon Castle\u2019s fit with UConn men\u2019s basketball; Notes from First Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

STORRS -\u2013 Tristen Newton’s decision to return to UConn<\/a>, after attending the G League Elite Camp and testing the professional waters, ensured the Huskies would have a solid backcourt this year with prized recruit Stephon Castle<\/a> coming in.<\/p>\n

About a week later, coach Dan Hurley and staff locked in a commitment from Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer<\/a> to fill out a roster with Final Four potential.<\/p>\n

Castle, a 6-foot-6 point guard, is expected to maximize his strengths as a facilitator \u2013 a key attribute that made him a consensus top-15 recruit in his class \u2013 with Newton and Spencer serving in their natural roles as scorers for the 2023-24 Huskies.<\/p>\n

“I think the vision is, for Steph to do for us in terms of creating offense and facilitating in transition with the shooters and the finishers at center,” Hurley said Friday, prior to the First Night festivities. “But I think he’ll take even more pressure off Tristen in terms of his ball-handling responsibilities and I could just put Tristen in positions to be a little bit more like the guy at East Carolina for us.”<\/p>\n

Newton, a 6-5 point guard, was the leading scorer (17.7 points per game) in his junior year at East Carolina before joining the Huskies and sacrificing some of that ball dominance last year as he averaged 10.1 points per game. He had big games, two triple-doubles and a 19-point, 10-rebound performance in the national championship, among others, but the role was somewhat different for him and it took time for his confidence to build. Still, he was the Huskies’ fourth-best 3-point shooter (36.6%) and had range that extended the floor.<\/p>\n

Spencer averaged more than two made 3-pointers per game last year at Rutgers, converting 43.4% of his shots from deep.<\/p>\n

“Having two guys playing next to Steph that can shoot, score, are veterans \u2013 Cam and Tristen \u2013 it’s a great setup for them and it’s great for Steph. Obviously add Alex (Karaban) to that mix, scoring, shooting and finishers around a 6-6 guard that can really create, it can be great,” Hurley said.<\/p>\n

Castle can score too, primarily at the rim with his strength and athleticism, as his shot continues to improve.<\/p>\n

“I think the vision is to use him in a lot of ways just like we did with Andre (Jackson) in terms of getting on the defensive glass, pushing the ball, starting our transition and when he has opportunities with the ball,” Hurley said, “there’s gonna be great driving lanes for him, or opportunities for him to spray the ball to shooters and finishers.”<\/p>\n

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2024 5\"\u2b50\" Patrick Ngongba (@NgongbaPatrick<\/a>) and 2024 4\"\u2b50\" UConn Commit Isaiah Abraham (@iamzzayy<\/a>) on their official visits to UConn! pic.twitter.com\/wPpX5yjJyu<\/a><\/p>\n

— HS Top Recruits (@HSTopRecruiting) October 14, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n