Note #048: Rafael Castro (Versatile Four/Five)
Once Providence Friar, then George Washington Revolutionary Rafael Castro was not selected in the 2026 NBA Draft following his strong senior season in Foggy Bottom; however, he immediately signed a two-way deal with Milwaukee.
In 2025-26, his second campaign with GW (after two years (2022-24) in Rhode Island's capital), the 6'10" Castro was an astro across 29 GP (27.3 MP/G):
- 15.3 PPG
- 9.1 RPG
- 1.7 APG
- 1.8 SPG
- 1.7 BPG
Since 1947-48, Castro is the only NCAA Division I men's player to average 15+ PPG, 9+ RPG, 1.5+ APG, 1.5+ SPG, 1.5+ BPG in 27.5 MP/G or less!
If we remove BPG, there is just one other player besides Castro to meet the other four per game criteria in 27.5 MP/G or less:
Heder Ambroise (1987-88) - 15.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.1 SPG (29 GP, 27.5 MP/G)
Now, if we: 1. remove the MP/G ceiling, 2. reinstate BPG, and 3. add 62.5+ FG% as a baseline (Castro shot 62.7% on 252 FGA in 2025-26), three others join the mix:
1. Bo Outlaw (1992-93) - 16.2 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 3.8 BPG, 65.8 FG% (196/298) - 30 GP, 35.2 MP/G
2. N'Faly Dante (2023-24) - 17.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 69.5 FG% (153/220) - 22 GP, 31.5 MP/G
3. Shaquille O'Neal (1990-91) - 27.6 PPG, 14.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 5.0 BPG (!!), 62.8 FG% (312/497) - 28 GP, 31.5 MP/G
Let's play around and swap out FG% for 5+ 2P/G (Castro - 5.4) and 6.5+ FTA/G (Castro - 6.6).
Eight times, since 1953-54, a senior (including Castro) met those seven per game thresholds (min. 29 GP):
15-18 PPG
1. Marqus Blakely (2009-10) - 17.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 5.7 2P/G, 8.7 FTA/G (35 GP, 33.7 MP/G)
2. Derrick Coleman (1989-90) - 17.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 5.4 2P/G, 8.0 FTA/G (33 GP, 35.3 MP/G)
18-20 PPG
3. Javon McCrea (2013-14) - 18.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 6.9 2P/G, 6.8 FTA/G (29 GP, 32.3 MP/G)
4. Sam Clancy (2001-02) - 19.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 7.3 2P/G, 6.9 FTA/G (32 GP, 37.6 MP/G)
20+ PPG
5. Clarence Weatherspoon (1991-92) - 22.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 2.7 BPG, 7.7 2P/G, 6.7 FTA/G (29 GP, 36.4 MP/G)
6. Rashawn Thomas (2016-17) - 22.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.6 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 7.5 2P/G, 8.8 FTA/G (34 GP, 33.7 MP/G)
7. Lionel Simmons (1989-90) - 26.5 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 9.5 2P/G!, 6.9 FTA/G (32 GP, 38.1 MP/G)
FWIW, all players above averaged at least five more minutes per game than Castro.
If we expand to include non-seniors who met those marks in a single season, the list grows from 8 to 17: and with that expansion, Blakely AND Simmons show up two more times, each! (as juniors and sophomores).
And while both accomplished those season-long per game feats thrice, no other player did it twice.
Lastly, let's look deeper into the 2P and FT shooting. Castro generated:
- 158/252 2P/2PA (62.7 2P%)
- 127/192 FT/FTA (66.1 FT%)
Three others in 2025-26 shot 62.5%+ from 2 (min. 250 2PA) and 66%+ from the FT line (min. 190 FTA):
1. Terry Anderson - 174/276 2P/2PA (63.0%), 170/224 FT/FTA (75.9%)
2. Rashaud Marshall - 186/284 2P/2PA (65.5%), 132/196 FT/FTA (67.3%)
3. Izaiyah Nelson - 187/297 2P/2PA (63.0%), 145/200 FT/FTA (72.5%)
Marshall is the junior of the bunch (others: seniors, including Nelson, who was a second round draft pick in 2026.)
Of note, Castro did not attempt a 3-pointer in 2025-26. In his career, he is 1/8 from long-distance (12.5 3P%).
Blakely's baked into Note #044 on former Arkansas Razorback Trevon Brazile.
O'Neal? Oh yeah, we've heard of him:
Note #002 (Flory Bidunga) / Note #044 (Brazile)