Colin Castleton has taken a step closer to his dreams of playing in the NBA by getting an invitation to the G League Elite Camp.
When it comes to the NBA pre-draft process, the NBA Combine is the highest level of event where the top talent, usually approximately 60 players from around the world, get invited. Unfortunately, Colin Castleton didn’t make that list. The second level is the G League Elite Camp.
Fortunately for Colin Castleton, the top players from the G League Elite Camp go on to earn invitations to the NBA Combine which will unquestionably be the goal for him. Usually that number has been around 5 players, but the number goes up if players in the NBA Combine bow out for any reason–whether a strategic decision, or due to injury.
One of the reasons that Castleton came back to the Gators for a final season was to improve his draft stock and earn an invite to the NBA combine, but unfortunately a lack of team success and an unfortunate late season injury overshadowed what was a tremendous individual season. Averaging 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in 26 games, Castleton was able to showcase a lot of individual production despite the losses that piled up for the Gators.
Before the 2022-23 season Castleton did enter his name into the NBA Draft in order to work out for teams and receive feedback, and multiple teams reported that he was able to shoot the three at a high level in those workouts. Coming back to Florida there was a hope that this shooting would translate but he never got the touch from behind the arc in game action. He will certainly be working on that jumper in order to demonstrate shooting touch at the G League Elite Camp in order to prove some ability to stretch defenses at the next level.
Even without a proven three-point jumper at the college level, Castleton has shown he can be an outstanding help defender who can protect the rim with his length and anticipation. Additionally, he was able to prove his ability to guard pick and rolls in an NBA style “drop” system under Todd Golden, a departure from the more college style hedge and recover structure that Mike White utilized. Defense is going to be the calling card for Castleton and if he proves he can switch out and guard on the perimeter when needed in addition to his interior and help side ability there will likely be teams interested in his services as a rotation big man.
Currently Castleton doesn’t show up on many mock drafts, though in today’s day and age in the NBA there is no major difference in being a second round pick or being an undrafted free agent–in fact, many players would rather be undrafted than a second round pick as it allows them the flexibility to sign wherever they want as opposed to being tethered to only one franchise. There is more of a path than ever for undrafted free agents, so even if Castleton doesn’t hear his name called on draft night there will be an opportunity for him to reach his goal.
Other names that have been invited to the G League Elite Camp include Olivier Nkamhoua (Tennessee), Pelle Larsson (Arizona), Charles Bediako (Alabama), and Cliff Omoruyi (Rutgers), big men who Castleton will try to outperform in order to earn an invite to the main NBA Combine.