Spurs targeting NCAA champion guard with high-draft pick?

Dec 13, 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA; A general view of the San Antonio Spurs logo on the court prior to a game between the Spurs and the LA Clippers at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs may be zeroing in on a potential running mate for Victor Wembanyama.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Spurs are said to be big fans of former UConn guard Stephon Castle. Iko adds that Castle is moving up San Antonio’s draft board and could be the pick for the team with either one of their top-ten picks this year (No. 4 and No. 8 overall).

Castle, 19, is a combo guard who is fresh off an NCAA title with the Huskies last season as a freshman. He averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game overall and is regarded as one of the better defenders in this year’s draft class. Castle was also named the Big East Freshman of the Year for the 2023-24 campaign.

For the Spurs, perhaps their greatest areas of need are perimeter defense and a true point guard to feed the ball to their franchise star Wembanyama. Castle may be better suited to fill the first need than the second one. But he could still make plenty of sense for San Antonio, especially if they try to land a point guard in free agency instead (such as this big rumored name).