2024 PG David Castillo talks game, early recruitment
Sophomore point guard David Castillo of Bartlesville (Okla.) High might still be an underclassman, but college coaches are already starting to take notice. The 6-foot-1 floor general has received double digits offers, including from the likes of Kansas, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, and others.
Not to mention, Gonzaga, Memphis, Missouri, Oregon, and Tennessee have all started to show interest in the Oklahoma native.
However, out of the school that has offered, he says four schools are staying in most frequent contact – Kansas State, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and Kansas.
Castillo has already taken unofficial visits to each of the four mentioned, and one more to Oklahoma.
Castillo talks visits
Oklahoma: “We went to a basketball game. They played the UT-Arlington. That was a good visit. We just went to the game and then they showed us the facilities and all that stuff afterward. I saw the coach’s office. It was short but it was really good. It was cool to see what they do, how they treat the players, the visit was really good.”
Oklahoma State: “Oklahoma State was great. Coach (Mike) Boynton and the whole coaching staff really try to make me a priority and I really like that coaching staff. They communicate well and they keep it real with all their players.”
Kansas: “That visit was great. The atmosphere was amazing. We went to see them play Missouri. And I also just recently went to the Kentucky game this past Saturday. The atmosphere was crazy. Gradey Dick and MJ (Rice) were also there too, two Kansas commits. The arena is amazing and the tradition that they carry is really amazing, really special. Coach (Bill) Self keeps it real. He’s probably the realest coach out there. You know if you do something bad, he’s going to be on you. He’s funny sometimes, but sometimes he can get on you. You can see why he’s a Hall-of-Fame coach. He makes his players play the right way and I think I can play in that position. I mean, Coach Self, you know, there’s not really much you can say. His name speaks for itself.
Kansas State: I went to the Kansas State versus Nevada football game. I went and played open gym over there too. That visit was great too. Their coaches all try to make me a priority. The football game was great. The players were also really cool. The players try to tell me what’s going on with the NIL, and they tell me about the coaching staff and the way that they play.
Castillo’s head basketball coach, Clent Stewart, played basketball for Kansas State.
Arkansas: “My initial impression of Coach (Eric) Musselman was that he’s a great guy. I really love the way he treats his players and how he treats other people. That really stood out to me. Coach Muss, seeing his energy in practice and seeing his energy towards other people is just really amazing, and the whole coaching staff. That’s what I really like about them. The visit was great. The atmosphere was crazy at the football game. Their fans are super passionate. The players are super cool. Jaylin Williams talked to me about NIL. That visit was great, especially for my first unofficial.
Castillo describes his game
“I can play make very well, get all my teammates involved, and I really think I can make my teammates better,” Castillo says. “I think I have a really good shooting ability, especially off the pick-and-roll. I’d say I’m a three-level scorer, able to play in the mid-range area, floaters. I think I’m a fast player too, up and down, I can push in transition and make plays. I’m really just an all-around point guard.”
Which aspects of the game does Castillo want to improve?
“My defense. I think I can improve my leadership as well, just always encouraging my teammates, just telling me that they’re going to make the next shot or make the right play. I think I can improve on communicating as well, just talking a lot more, especially as a point guard. Especially at the college level, you have to be able to communicate and to communicate to the coach as well.”
It’s still very early, but what is Castillo looking for in his future college?
“What I’m looking for is a coach that believes in me and my abilities. I’m looking for a school that trusts me with the ball and lets me play lead guard and lets me make decisions. I think I’m really good at making decisions and leading my team. So if I can find a school that trusts me and believes in me enough to do that, I think that’ll end up being my decision.”