Tag: Colin Castleton

Potential Philadelphia 76ers undrafted player profiles: Colin Castleton

Florida big man Colin Castleton has the potential to be a productive rotational player in this league.

With the 2023 NBA draft right around the corner, Sixers Wire continues profiling players who could go undrafted and whom the Philadelphia 76ers could add to the roster after the draft.

The Sixers do not have a pick in the draft on June 22. They traded their first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that brought James Harden to the City of Brotherly Love at the 2022 deadline, and they were docked second-round picks in 2023 and 2024 by the NBA for tampering.

However, that doesn’t mean the Sixers will or should be inactive around the draft process. There will be a number of talented players who go undrafted, meaning the Sixers should be able to add a young player who could potentially become a rotation piece.

Next up in this series is Florida big man Colin Castleton.

Warriors holding pre-draft workouts with five prospects, including Duke’s Dereck Lively II

The Warriors will reportedly bring in five prospects for a pre-draft workout on Monday.

While the Golden State Warriors are searching to find the successor to Bob Myers at the top of the front office, they will also have to keep an eye upcoming NBA draft. On June 22, the Warriors will have the chance to add a player in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft with the No. 19 overall pick.

Before draft day, the Warriors are working out a flurry of different prospects. Following players like UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, the next group of players will reportedly work out with the Warriors on Monday.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Duke’s Dereck Lively II, Kansas’ Jalen Wilson, Florida’s Colin Castleton, Kansas State’s Keyontae Johnson and Creighton’s Arthur Kaluma are set to work out with the Warriors on Monday.

Via @anthonyVslater on Twitter:

Lively II headlines the group of six players scheduled for a workout with the Warriors. The former 5-star top recruit turned Duke Blue Devil tallied 5.2 points on 65.8% shooting from the floor with 5.4 boards and 2.4 rejections in 20.6 minutes per game during his first season at Cameron Indoor. 

Lively was the only member of the upcoming group to land in the first round of Cody Taylor’s latest mock draft for Rookie. Lively II went off the board at No. 20 to the Houston Rockets. Wilson was featured in the second round of Taylor’s latest mock. 

Wilson played four seasons at Kansas, winning an NCAA title in 2022. During his final season in Lawerence, Wilson averaged 20.1 points on 43% shooting from the field with 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last year. 

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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2 potential undrafted centers Sixers should look into after 2023 NBA draft

Here are two big men who could potentially go undrafted in 2023 who the Philadelphia 76ers should look into.

The Philadelphia 76ers do not have a draft pick in the 2023 NBA draft. They traded away their first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that brought James Harden to the City of Brotherly Love at the 2022 deadline, and they were docked second-round picks in 2023 and 2024 by the NBA for tampering.

However, that doesn’t mean the Sixers will or should be inactive around the draft process. There will be a number of talented players who go undrafted, meaning the Sixers should be able to add a young player who could potentially become a rotation player.

One should not brush off undrafted players. The Miami Heat are a prime example of investing in young talent and giving them time to develop. In the Sixers’ case, here are two big men who could go undrafted but could help in the long run:

G League Elite Camp: Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell dazzled on Day 1

Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell was among the standouts from the first day of the G League Elite Camp.

The NBA G League Elite Camp tipped off on Saturday as 45 prospects hit the court to showcase their games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts in Chicago, Illinois.

The top performers are invited each year to compete in the draft combine, which begins Monday. The event has helped send several players to the NBA, including Jose Alvarado, Oshae Brissett, Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Terance Mann.

The players participated in various on-court drills, exercises and measurement testing. They were split into four teams and took part in 5-on-5 scrimmages. Several players emerged with standout performances from the first day.

Here are some of the top performers from Saturday.

Two former Gators to attend NBA G League Elite Camp

These two Gators are working to earn an invitation to the NBA scouting combine later this month.

The NBA G League Elite Camp kicks off this weekend starting on Saturday and continuing on Sunday in Chicago, Illinois, where a pair of former Florida basketball players are participating in an effort to break into the next level.

Center [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] and forward [autotag]Alex Fudge[/autotag] are the two Gators who are slated to compete in the event, an NBA spokesperson shared with All Gators Friday morning. The pair were two of 44 total players invited the to prestigious camp.

Both players were former transfer portal acquisitions for Florida, with Castleton arriving from the Michigan Wolverines following the 2019-2020 campaign in Ann Arbor. During his Gainesville tenure, the 6-foot-11-inch, 250-pound center was among the best rim protectors in the country and was the centerpiece of the Gators’ offense.

Fudge made the switch from the LSU Tigers before the beginning of last season. At the time, Gators head coach Todd Golden described Fudge as “the definition of an impactful player.” The 6-foot-9-inch, 200-pound wingman’s year wearing the Orange and Blue had high points and low points as he finished the campaign averaging 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 32 games with 11 starts, finishing second to Castleton with 25 blocked shots.

Those who turn in a successful performance at the NBA G League Elite Camp can expect an invitation to the NBA scouting combine at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago from May 15-21.

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NBA draft combine 2023: A complete tracker of player invitations

Rookie Wire took a look at those prospects that have earned invitations to compete in the NBA draft combine and G League Elite Camp.

The NBA pre-draft process is in full swing as prospects work toward achieving the ultimate goal of hearing their names called by Commissioner Adam Silver on June 22.

Reports are beginning to surface of prospects receiving invitations to compete in the draft combine on May 15-21 in Chicago, Illinois. Each year, teams submit a list of players they would like to see invited, typically those with the highest odds of getting drafted.

The event features 5-on-5 games, strength and agility testing, shooting drills, measurements and other related on-court exercises. Prospects have the opportunity to improve their draft stock in a competitive environment against their peers.

Last year, 76 players were announced as participants in the event.

The G League Elite Camp will take place in Chicago on May 13-14 with players competing in front of NBA and G League scouts, coaches and front-office executives. The top performers will also be invited to perform in the draft combine.

The official list of participants for both events has yet to be unveiled.

Those underclassmen that filed as early entry candidates will also have the chance to interview with teams and gain feedback on their draft positioning. The information will be helpful in forming their decisions on staying in the draft or returning to school before the May 31 deadline.

Rookie Wire took a look at those prospects that have reportedly earned invitations to compete in the combine and G League Elite Camp. The list will be updated as more names emerge.

Last Update: May 14, 11:15 p.m. EDT

Florida basketball hosting top-25 center for multi-day visit

Even though Florida’s been focused on the transfer portal lately, Todd Golden and Co. are still putting in work on the high school recruiting front too.

The Florida Gators are one of the teams on Sunrise Christian (Wichita, Kansas) center [autotag]John Bol[/autotag]’s radar, and the 7-foot-1-inch big man plans on visiting the Swamp soon, according to Graham Hall of 247Sports.

Bol has taken most of the spring to see what teams look like, but now he’s ready for visits following the conclusion of his junior season. Florida is one of the first programs on his itinerary. Bol plans to be in Gainesville on April 21-22, according to Hall.

Kansas State, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas are at the top of Bol’s offer sheet, and he says he’s looking for a school that can build him both on and off the court. Florida fits the specifications nicely, and the Gators have show regular interest in many of the nation’s top big men. The departure of [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] likely has something to do with that, and adding a true 7-footer can’t hurt, right?

If all goes well on this visit, Florida will make whatever list Bol narrows things down to after the conclusion of his spring tour.

Bol is a consensus four-star recruit, ranked in the top-25 on both the 247Sports composite and On3 industry ranking. On3 has him listed as the third-best center in the class of 2024, but most other services like him at No. 4 among those playing his position.

Still, this is an elite prospect that would immediately change Florida’s approach on the floor.

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Florida bringing in Seton Hall transfer forward for official visit

The Gators are still looking to add a few names from the transfer portal, and Seton Hall forward Tyrese Samuel might be a name to watch with an official visit coming up.

The Florida Gators still have three open scholarship spots on the men’s basketball roster, and Todd Golden’s recruiting staff isn’t slowing down their efforts in the transfer portal any time soon.

On Saturday, April 15, UF will host former Seton Hall forward [autotag]Tyrese Samuel[/autotag] on an official visit, according to Jacob Rudner of 247Sports.

Samuel is still deciding between Florida and Wake Forest, so this trip should help him answer whatever questions he has left about the school and program. Associate head coach Carlin Hartman already stopped by Samuel’s house for an in-home visit on Sunday to get him a headstart on what the Gators are all about.

What might attract Samuel to Florida most is the exposure he’ll get playing in the SEC. It’s far easier for players to stand out at a Power Five program, especially one that has produced NBA big men in the past and perhaps near future in [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag].

Florida could use another center after losing Castleton and [autotag]Jason Jitoboh[/autotag], even with the addition of former Marshall 7-foot center [autotag]Micah Handlogten[/autotag]. Samuel will be a fifth-year guy, though, so he may not want to split time as a sixth or seventh man off the bench.

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Florida hoops hosting Charlotte transfer C on official visit

The Gators aren’t slowing down in the transfer portal after landing a trio of players. Former Charlotte center Aly Khalifa is set to officially visit Gainesville over the weekend.

The Florida Gators landed a pair of commitments to the men’s basketball program in as many days, but the recruiting train is slowing down for Todd Golden and Co. any time soon.

Swamp247’s Jacob Rudner reported that former Charlotte center [autotag]Aly Khalifa[/autotag] will be on campus for an official visit with the Gators beginning on April 15. Khalifa is an international talent, who is originally from Egypt. At 6-foot-11-inches and 230 pounds, he dominated the post in the Conference USA with the 49ers for two years.

The big man’s game isn’t limited to down low, though. He’s a strong passer and shot 38.1% from three-point range last season. Khalifa is very strong rebounder, which shouldn’t be assumed because of his height. He won the 2021-22 Conference USA Freshman of the Year Award.

Florida recently brought center [autotag]Micah Handlogten[/autotag] into the fold, but the Gators still need a backup center after losing both [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jason Jitoboh[/autotag] at the end of the season. Khalifa would fit into Jitoboh’s role immediately and provide a different set of skills off the bench than Handlogten.

The Gators have three scholarship spots left to fill, including incoming freshmen, and Khalifa could very well take one of them if things go well over this extended visit to the Swamp.

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Florida basketball adds elite transfer portal C Micah Handlogten

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team have added a second player through the transfer portal, former Marshall center Micah Handlogten.

The second year of the (Todd) Golden Era at Florida will look a lot different from the first with the departures of three of the team’s most prominent big men, Colin Castleton, Jason Jitoboh and CJ Felder.

Replacing the production those three provided is no easy task, especially Castleton’s workload, but the Gators added a major piece of its new-look frontcourt on Monday with the commitment of former Marshall center Micah Handlogten. The 7-foot-1-inch big man chose Florida over Auburn and NC State after entering the portal as one of the top big-man transfers in the country.

His commitment comes fresh off a visit to the Swamp over the weekend. On3’s Joe Tipton spoke with Handlogten about the decision and learned that the visit was among the many reasons the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year chose Florida.

“I chose Florida because of the opportunity that the University holds,” Handlogten said. “They have an opening for a center to come in and play major minutes. After going on my visit, I mesh really well with the players and I love the coaches. I really think I can thrive under their coaching and become a pro at Florida.”

Handlogten is among the nation’s top shot blockers, which is something Florida fans have gotten used to with Castleton down low. Speaking of the now-former Gator, Castleton was a direct participant in Handlogten’s recruitment, according to Jacob Rudner of 247Sports. The two big men caught up during Handlogten’s recent visit, and Castleton sold the University of Florida to him.

Gainesville is certainly a good place for big men to thrive, and Handlogten has the numbers to warrant a starting role right away. He averaged 7.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.2 assists in 25.3 minutes per game as a freshman.

His conditioning should only improve, which means his playing time will too. Averaging a double-double seems attainable for him in his first season in the SEC.

Handlogten is the second transfer to join the Gators over the offseason. Former Yale forward EJ Jarvis is also committed to Florida, and the two could spend plenty of time on the court together next season.

Alex Fudge, Riley Kugel and Will Richard all figure to be major pieces for UF next season, and guard Denzel Aberdeen should get a chance to play more as a sophomore.

Alex Szymczyk is the other returning player on the roster, and freshmen Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon will join the team. That leaves four scholarship spots left for Florida to fill through the transfer portal.

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