Ever since coming to Florida head coach Todd Golden and his staff have been going after big name talent in the 2023 and 2024 classes and that effort has already been rewarded with several visits from elite prospects.
Next in line to come to Gainesville for a visit is David Castillo who will reportedly come to Florida next week, a trip that will possibly overlap with Reuben Abuchi Chinyelu, one of the top big men in 2023.
Castillo is a 6’1”, 160 pound guard from Bartlesville, Oklahoma who is in the class of 2024. He has made a name for himself as one of the most electric scorers in the class which now has him ranked 15th in the country and the number one combo guard.
Bartlesville, Oklahoma isn’t a place that has traditionally produced a ton of basketball talent, but Castillo loves putting on for his hometown. Despite being one of the top players in 2024 he hasn’t jumped to a basketball powerhouse or moved across the country to attend a bigger program, instead he has stayed home at Bartlesville High School, playing with guys he grew up with and making it his goal to get the program back to the state tournament which, given their recent basketball history, is no small feat. It’s something about Castillo’s story that says a lot about his personality and how he feels about loyalty and hard work.
While he might not always see the highest level of competition in high school, he has more than proven his ability to play with the world’s best players at his age group as he was a key player on a Team USA team that just won a U-17 Gold Medal in Spain. This comes after he also helped them win a FIBA Americas U16 Gold. He also played for Team Griffin, playing up a division, where he got to compete at Peach Jam. Playing against older players at arguably the best grassroots event of the summer, he had 12 points and 3 assists per game.
When it comes to his style of play, Castillo is a guard in the Steph Curry, Trae Young, or Damian Lillard mold. He’s not tall, he’s quite skinny, but when he gets the ball–you can’t keep your eyes off him. As soon as he crosses half court he’s in range to pull up, and when defenders crowd him to take away that threat he relishes the opportunity to string together a few crossovers to shake free.
The comparison to Damian Lillard might also have been made by Damian Lillard himself who recently invited Castillo to his prestigious Formula Zero camp alongside another Florida target in Dedan Thomas and current Gator Will Richard.
Does he take shots that make coaches cringe? Yes, but he’ll make them, too. There might be some refinement required before he enters the college game, but his big time shot making and ability to create offense out of thin air is the reason he’s the 15th ranked player in the class.
Castillo currently has offers and interest from Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, Gonzaga, Arizona, LSU, Florida, and others.
The consensus is that there isn’t a clear leader in Castillo’s recruitment though that does mean, to some, that Oklahoma might be the default favorite. This is a kid who has chosen to stay in Bartlesville to compete for his hometown high school, so it’s reasonable to think that OU will have a good opportunity here. However, Castillo hasn’t taken many visits yet, so for Florida to get one at this point says a lot and they are very much in the mix.