NBA Draft Scouting Report: Florida's Colin Castleton
Colin Castleton
Forward | Florida
Height: 6'11” | Weight: 250 lbs
2023 Draft Age: 23.07
Doug Engle-USA TODAY NETWORK
Prospect Profile
Castleton played two seasons at Michigan to start his college career, but rarely touched the floor. After transferring to Florida, he instantly saw an increase in his role and minutes on the court. Now that he’s played three seasons as a Gator and has become a three-time All-SEC performer, it’s clear he’s an NBA talent.
Although he got hurt late in the season and was sidelined because of it, Castleton was one of the more dominant scorers at the college level. He also blocked three shots per game, showcasing his ability to impact winning on both ends. He does a phenomenal job of defending without fouling and it’s a testament to his strong feel for the game. The defensive big has improved offensively over the years as he developed some low post scoring moves as he showcases a soft touch around the rim
Castleton is also crafty, as a big that has the ability to dribble and create his own shot when catching in the mid-post or on the perimeter. He excels transition from one play type to the next. Whether it’s a pick-and-pop, dribble handoff, or a post up, he can score in a variety of ways with fluidity.
The major downfall is that he will be 23 years old on the night of the 2023 NBA Draft. Regardless, as a rotational piece on an NBA team that needs a rookie contributor he could be a great piece. The one thing that will potentially hold Castleton back from being a second-round pick outside of being an older prospect is his 3-point shooting. In his first four college seasons, he didn’t make a single shot from beyond the arc on very limited attempts. While it was great to see more of a willingness last season, he converted on only two of 15 of his triples. On the flip side, he did make nearly 74% of his free throws over the past four years, which could indicate future shooting upside, but at minimum makes him playable late in close games.
Playing alongside several NBA talents over the past few years at Florida, Castleton has proven he can thrive in a variety of roles and with different types of players. Combine his ability to score at a high level with underrated passing chops (2.7 assists last season) and it’s easy to see his offensive game translating at the next level. Furthermore, his size and strength should allow him to defend either frontcourt spot in the NBA.
Castleton was arguably the biggest snub to not receive an NBA Draft Combine invite, but his two-way production didn’t go unnoticed at the G League Elite Camp. The Florida big man was finishing well around the rim as he does a really good job of utilizing his size inside the paint. The shot-blocker protected the rim effectively and he showcased some of the best feel for the game of anyone at the camp.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Potential Second-Round Pick in 2023 NBA Draft.
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