Kansas State’s point guard of the future is helping the Wildcats in the present
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- David Castillo converted all nine shots and scored 19 in blowout vs Bellarmine.
- Coach Jerome Tang projects Castillo as future starting point guard while aiding present.
- Castillo added muscle, improved shooting and handles heavy workouts to boost role.
Kansas State men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang was one of the few people inside Bramlage Coliseum who wasn’t the least bit surprised when David Castillo made all nine of his shot attempts and scored 19 points during a lopsided victory against Bellarmine last week.
“I have said it before, and I’m saying it again,” Tang said afterward. “At some point in his career, he’s going to be (our starting point guard).”
Castillo might also be a difference-maker this season.
The 6-foot-1 guard had a forgettable debut year in purple, as he averaged just 2.4 points per game as a freshman. Some expected more from him, given that he was a four-star recruit coming out of high school.
But he has made noticeable improvements since then, and he is beginning to make consistent plays for the Wildcats off the bench.
In K-State’s first two games, he has scored 26 points in 25 minutes. He has also made 85.7% of his 3-pointers.
Small sample? Sure. But the early results have been encouraging. Perhaps he can thrive in a complementary role while Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty leads the offense this season.
“This year is a growing year for him to learn from an All American and develop his own savvy,” Tang said. “I’m excited. I want him to really enjoy this and really work hard and really embrace learning all the little things you have got to learn that it’s going to allow him to be that in the future. But let’s not think about the future too much right now, because we could be really, really good, and he can be a big part of that. He already is.”
Castillo looks like the most improved returner on the K-State basketball roster.
He has added muscle, and he is playing with more confidence. He was held scoreless in 16 games last season. There’s no way he is going to let that happen again.
Castillo credits his workout routine, which starts at 6 a.m. most days and doesn’t end until long after team practice is over. He is constantly trying to perfect his shot and improve as a ball-handler.
“It’s good to see that all the hard work is paying off,” Castillo said. “I also feel more comfortable out there.”
His mindset is to do whatever it takes to help K-State win games this season and then potentially star for the Wildcats as an upperclassman.