Rafael Castro has power forward size but the game of a center. Castro averaged 15.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocked shots per game this season at George Washington. He led the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage at 62.7% and was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Defense First Team. At 6'9" with a 7'1.25" wingspan and a 224-pound frame, Castro is small for a NBA center. His 7'1" wingspan is in the same range as Alperen Sengun, but Castro will likely be giving up roughly 20 pounds on many nights in the NBA. He needs to add strength. Castro played two seasons at Providence before finishing with two seasons at George Washington. He had slightly more turnovers than assists across his four-year college career and attempted only eight three-point shots in four seasons. Although his free throw shooting improved, he remained a poor career free throw shooter at 62.7%. The reason Castro remains so interesting is defense, motor, and activity. His DDiff was an incredible plus-10.7, meaning George Washington was 10.7 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Castro in the game. Due largely to that defensive impact, he led the Atlantic 10 in box score plus/minus. Castro has a great motor, terrific instincts, and brings energy to every game. His per-minute rebounding, steals, and free throw attempts are all in A-plus territory. Castro jumped a 36.5" max vertical at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. We like Castro better than the consensus seems to. The shooting woes are real, and his positional fit is not clean, but Castro simply brings too much energy, defensive ability, and productive activity to be ignored.
