Stephon Castle didn’t need long to notice what Tarris Reed Jr. is bringing to San Antonio.
The former UConn standout said Monday at Spurs media day that the fellow Huskies product has looked strong in the preseason, with his work around the rim and his footwork standing out right away.
"Tarris has been great through the open runs," Castle told reporters Monday at Spurs media day. "He's rebounding the ball like crazy.
He's finishing. His footwork looks sharp, so you can tell he's really been working."
The two never shared the floor at UConn, but they’re getting that chance now in San Antonio after both landed with the Spurs in consecutive drafts. Castle went No. 4 overall in 2024 after a huge freshman season in Storrs, and Reed followed this year as a first-round pick after his own late surge pushed him into that range.
"We definitely shared a couple of Hurley stories with each other," Castle said.
Castle came to UConn in 2023-24 as the nation’s No. 9 recruit and quickly lived up to the billing. Under Dan Hurley, he averaged 11.1 points per game along with nearly five rebounds and three assists, then took that momentum straight to the NBA. In San Antonio, he joined Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper as part of the franchise’s latest wave of lottery talent.
That youth movement paid off fast. The Spurs went 62-20 last season and reached the NBA Finals before falling to the New York Knicks, a dramatic turnaround that changed the backdrop for Reed’s arrival.
Reed enters a very different situation than Castle did a year earlier. His role is expected to center on backup center minutes and rim protection, especially after San Antonio’s defense slipped badly when Wembanyama was off the floor during the playoffs.
Reed’s path to the NBA was less straightforward. He arrived at UConn from Michigan as a raw transfer portal addition, showed flashes of ability, but dealt with efficiency issues tied to foul shooting and turnovers. He split time with Samson Johnson as a junior and stayed mostly off draft radars for much of his improved senior year before climbing into the first round after UConn made yet another Final Four.
Castle’s place in the Spurs’ rotation looks much safer. He started 68 games at point guard last season and averaged 7.4 assists per game, giving San Antonio a steady presence in the backcourt.
Reed, by contrast, will have to fight for minutes. He’s in the mix with fellow rookie Jayden Quaintaince and veteran Luke Kornet for frontcourt time.
In Other News...
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Calvin Russell III is also expected to be part of the mix for the first time after a remarkably quick recovery from an Achilles injury. For a UConn defense that has to prepare on a short week, that adds another name to track and another way Syracuse can stress a secondary that may have spent most of the week game-planning for one version of the Orange and now has to account for a more varied attack. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Fans Got One Tough Update In A Busy Huskies News Day
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On the football side, UConn also locked in its matchup with Temple for October 10 at 3:45 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field, while the UConn Invitational golf tournament was trimmed to 36 holes because of rain and was set to finish Tuesday. The toughest update of the day, though, came from one of the program's former backs, as Cam Edwards now at Michigan State is dealing with a season-ending knee injury. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Faces A Familiar Problem In Jason Candles Biggest Test Yet
UConns home date with Syracuse on Saturday brings more than a Power 5 name onto the schedule. It also puts Jason Candle in a familiar football neighborhood, with connections across both sidelines and a test that comes with plenty of shared history. Syracuse is turning to Steve Angeli at quarterback, and the Orange are also expected to introduce freshman wide receiver Calvin Russell to college football in the same game.
The coaching overlap is just as notable for UConn. Candle and Syracuse defensive coordinator Vince Kehres worked together at Toledo, and UConn offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile has Syracuse ties of his own, which gives the matchup an extra layer beyond the usual nonconference meeting. For Candle, it is the kind of game that can feel more personal than most, even before the ball is kicked off. [Read more 🡒]