27 points, 10-12 FG, 7-7 FTs, 6 boards 3 steals and a block for A10 POY candidate Rafael Castro powering GW to a 99-85 win at Richmond 

 

Castro maintaining his incredible Per 40 pace from earlier in the season:

27.2 Pts, 12.4 boards 3.2 steals, 1.8 blocks, big improvement from his tremendous year last season

Free Throws up to 70% FG % is up to 67%

his impact on each game is monumental, defense, offense, etc.  

 Here's a look at RC's NBA draft outlook from Maxwell Baumbach 
​Rafael Castro has a rare blend of athleticism and feel. The 6’10” big man possesses a level of speed you don’t often find at the center position. Whether he’s sprinting out on the open floor or rolling to the rim in the blink of an eye, Castro knows how to weaponize his quickness. Plus, he’s an excellent leaper with soft hands who loves to dunk the ball. Per Synergy, he ranks in the 85th percentile in roll man efficiency and the 93rd percentile in transition efficiency. It’s tough for defenses to slow him down, and they often resort to fouling him (.848 FTr). This blend of tools and production in common, low-maintenance play types for big men gives him a baseline level of offensive appeal.What takes things to the next level, though, is Castro’s playmaking. Between this year and last, he’s tallied a 13.6 AST%, slinging 1.7 APG to 1.4 TOV. Castro can operate as a hub at the top of the key, reading the floor before finding open shooters and cutters. Plus, if an opposing big man plays him too tight, he might be able to turn on the jets and simply blow past them. All the better, his functional handle and ability to keep his eyes up on the move make him a dangerous passer on the go, too. He’s not just a standstill guy who accrues assists by making prescribed passes during the course of a set play—he can genuinely put it on the floor and read defenses as they collapse. Few players have both Castro’s rim-running prowess and playmaking skill.There’s reason for intrigue defensively, too. Few big men can generate pick-six possessions quite like Castro. His speed allows him to dart into passing lanes before sending home a dunk in transition. His 2.5 STL% last year was impressive, but this year, that number has jumped to 4.2%, and outlier number for his position. Rotationally, he covers ground more like a wing than a big. His lateral agility enables him to switch seamlessly onto smaller players. Castro’s bounce shows up on this end, too, as able to soar for highlight reel rejections around the basket (5.4 BLK%).
 Castro’s been a Top 60 guy for me since the pre-season, and that’s still where I have him now. He’s built for the pace of the modern NBA. He gets up and down the floor fast, he’s skilled, and he’s selfless. Offensively, he can produce both in transition and the halfcourt thanks to his rim running and ability to read the floor. Defensively, he possesses a rare level of agility for someone with his length. It’s not just that Castro has the potential to bring value on both sides of the ball, but a rather unique brand of value as well. While physicality issues could derail things for him, I’m ultimately willing to bet on his combination of tools, smarts, and unorthodox production at a certain point. I feel like he’s one of those guys who will rise once the pre-draft process gets going and people start to focus on him.

If any of you have ever played DFS on Draft Kings, Castro would have put up 62 draft kings fantasy points today if GW had been on it today. 

Not sure how to contextualize that, but it’s almost certainly a top 5 fantasy stat game for any player in the country in a D1 game this year (if not the highest).

26 and 14 with 2 dimes, no turnovers and 7 Stonks (steals and blocks) is ridiculously elite stat sheet stuffing.

Free Quebec wrote:

If any of you have ever played DFS on Draft Kings, Castro would have put up 62 draft kings fantasy points today if GW had been on it today.

Not sure how to contextualize that, but it’s almost certainly a top 5 fantasy stat game for any player in the country in a D1 game this year (if not the highest).

26 and 14 with 2 dimes, no turnovers and 7 Stonks (steals and blocks) is ridiculously elite stat sheet stuffing.

Very likely was THE Top game in the country this season.   Talk about putting a team on your back....

George Washington University's Rafael Castro was recently named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association

The announcement followed his dominant performance in a 77-55 win against La Salle on January 3, 2026, where he recorded a double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds. In that game, Castro also contributed three steals and four blocks for the Revolutionaries.
The Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week award is a weekly recognition given to the top NCAA Division I men's basketball player.

Another George Washington player, James Bishop IV, had also previously received the honor in January 2024.

Last edited by The Dude (1/06/2026 4:57 pm)

Perhaps, like last night when we couldn't utilize him as we should have, we don't want to jinx his performance. Or put too much pressure on Castro.
  In the end, winning games is a very important metric for the team.

Learned something cool  last night, had not heard or read it anywhere previously, on the CBS Sports telecast. 

Did anyone else know That Castro's Father was a pretty touted baseball prospect rising up to AA?!

Indeed he was, pretty cool!  Wonder if he had an arm injury or something, looked like he was heading to the show at some point based on his trajectory and stats.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mesa--001raf

2.87 career ERA!