Kansas State University Athletics
Castillo ‘Working While He’s Waiting’
Dec 03, 2024 | General, Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang remembers that day inside the hotel conference room in Oklahoma in April 2023. He was with his coaching staff and was joined by top-50 prospect David Castillo, who had heard from 20 different Division I schools.
"I'm talking and I probably went on for 20 minutes," Tang said. "Then David looks at me and says, 'Coach, you done?' He said, 'I'm coming.'"
"We must've fallen out of our chairs," Tang continued. "We were running around the room. I have goosebumps right now thinking about it because of how exciting it was and how unexpected it was that he knew this was where he wanted to go."
What Castillo, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound point guard, did in the Wildcats' 120-73 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday drew goosebumps as well.
Castillo came off the bench to pour in a season-high 17 points behind a 5-for-9 effort behind the 3-point line with one assist, two rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes.
His 17 points equaled his point total over the first seven games of the season. He had connected on three 3-pointers over that span.
"I didn't really come in expecting anything," Castillo said. "I just try to be a hard worker. I think this is just the result of my hard work."
Tang saw this moment coming for Castillo, who has augmented his daily routine to include getting up 300 to 500 shots in addition to practice.
"David Castillo is going to be an all-conference guard," Tang said. "He's a winner. This might be the first time in his life that he's had to come off the bench or struggle when things aren't as easy for him. He's always been able to slow the game down because of his maturity, and that's not the case right now, but he's continuing to work."
Prior to K-State, Castillo captured a gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Xalpala, Mexico. He helped Team USA to a 7-0 record at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in Malaga, Spain.
He was rated as a consensus 4-star prospect by all the major recruiting services and ranked as a top-15 point guard nationally and as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kansas after blowing up at prep powerhouse Sunrise Christian (Kan.) Academy his senior year — 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. This came after a standout career at Bartlesville (Okla.) High School under head coach and former K-State guard Clent Stewart. Castillo left with a school-record 1,594 points, and he averaged 23.7 points per game in his 67-game career.
"The coaching staff and environment," Castillo replied, when asked what attracted him to K-State. "Manhattan reminds me a lot of back home, so coming here was kind of another home feeling. Everyone is loving, caring and that's how it is back home. The coaching staff are role models for me. I look up to them. They help me out a lot and build my confidence."
Castillo appeared on the jumbotron at a K-State basketball game shortly after he signed with K-State on November 8, 2023. He was met with a loud ovation as he waved to the crowd at Bramlage Coliseum.
Upon Castillo's signing with K-State, Tang called him a "dude" — a label of endearment previously reserved for the likes of All-Americans Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson.
Now Castillo appears to be on his way up. He certainly lived up to his "dude" status in his latest performance.
"I heard (Georgia football coach) Kirby Smart say that they asked their guys to work while they wait, and that's what I'm asking David to do, to continue working while he's waiting, because that's what's going to help him get better," Tang said. "You're an ankle-turn away from consistently playing 25 minutes a night. That's something that's difficult to do, but he's mature enough to handle it."
K-State senior forward Achor Achor, who had a game-high 21 points against UAPB, sees ample potential for Castillo, as the Wildcats prepare to visit St. John's on Saturday.
"David is one of the best freshmen in the country," Achor said. "As long as he continues to steer forward and stay in the gym, the sky's the limit."
Castillo has no trouble fitting in with the Wildcats.
He feels right at home.
"I work hard, do what I'm supposed to do, and remain confident," he said. "Being myself is the main thing. I can bring shooting, dribbling, passing, defense — everything.
"I just played the game the way I knew how to play, and shots ended up falling."
It all goes back to that day in the hotel conference room in Oklahoma, when Castillo left Tang speechless by announcing to the head coach that he was bound for Manhattan.
"It was unbelievable," Tang said. "Man, we are so blessed."
Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang remembers that day inside the hotel conference room in Oklahoma in April 2023. He was with his coaching staff and was joined by top-50 prospect David Castillo, who had heard from 20 different Division I schools.
"I'm talking and I probably went on for 20 minutes," Tang said. "Then David looks at me and says, 'Coach, you done?' He said, 'I'm coming.'"
"We must've fallen out of our chairs," Tang continued. "We were running around the room. I have goosebumps right now thinking about it because of how exciting it was and how unexpected it was that he knew this was where he wanted to go."
What Castillo, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound point guard, did in the Wildcats' 120-73 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday drew goosebumps as well.
Castillo came off the bench to pour in a season-high 17 points behind a 5-for-9 effort behind the 3-point line with one assist, two rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes.
His 17 points equaled his point total over the first seven games of the season. He had connected on three 3-pointers over that span.
"I didn't really come in expecting anything," Castillo said. "I just try to be a hard worker. I think this is just the result of my hard work."
Tang saw this moment coming for Castillo, who has augmented his daily routine to include getting up 300 to 500 shots in addition to practice.
"David Castillo is going to be an all-conference guard," Tang said. "He's a winner. This might be the first time in his life that he's had to come off the bench or struggle when things aren't as easy for him. He's always been able to slow the game down because of his maturity, and that's not the case right now, but he's continuing to work."
Prior to K-State, Castillo captured a gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Xalpala, Mexico. He helped Team USA to a 7-0 record at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup in Malaga, Spain.
He was rated as a consensus 4-star prospect by all the major recruiting services and ranked as a top-15 point guard nationally and as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kansas after blowing up at prep powerhouse Sunrise Christian (Kan.) Academy his senior year — 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. This came after a standout career at Bartlesville (Okla.) High School under head coach and former K-State guard Clent Stewart. Castillo left with a school-record 1,594 points, and he averaged 23.7 points per game in his 67-game career.
"The coaching staff and environment," Castillo replied, when asked what attracted him to K-State. "Manhattan reminds me a lot of back home, so coming here was kind of another home feeling. Everyone is loving, caring and that's how it is back home. The coaching staff are role models for me. I look up to them. They help me out a lot and build my confidence."
Castillo appeared on the jumbotron at a K-State basketball game shortly after he signed with K-State on November 8, 2023. He was met with a loud ovation as he waved to the crowd at Bramlage Coliseum.
Upon Castillo's signing with K-State, Tang called him a "dude" — a label of endearment previously reserved for the likes of All-Americans Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson.
Now Castillo appears to be on his way up. He certainly lived up to his "dude" status in his latest performance.
"I heard (Georgia football coach) Kirby Smart say that they asked their guys to work while they wait, and that's what I'm asking David to do, to continue working while he's waiting, because that's what's going to help him get better," Tang said. "You're an ankle-turn away from consistently playing 25 minutes a night. That's something that's difficult to do, but he's mature enough to handle it."
K-State senior forward Achor Achor, who had a game-high 21 points against UAPB, sees ample potential for Castillo, as the Wildcats prepare to visit St. John's on Saturday.
"David is one of the best freshmen in the country," Achor said. "As long as he continues to steer forward and stay in the gym, the sky's the limit."
Castillo has no trouble fitting in with the Wildcats.
He feels right at home.
"I work hard, do what I'm supposed to do, and remain confident," he said. "Being myself is the main thing. I can bring shooting, dribbling, passing, defense — everything.
"I just played the game the way I knew how to play, and shots ended up falling."
It all goes back to that day in the hotel conference room in Oklahoma, when Castillo left Tang speechless by announcing to the head coach that he was bound for Manhattan.
"It was unbelievable," Tang said. "Man, we are so blessed."
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