Looks like Xavier will get an Ivy grad transfer after all.
A week after former Dartmouth standout Evan Boudreaux committed to Purdue following a decommitment from Xavier, Jeff Goodman of ESPN reported Sunday that Columbia guard Kyle Castlin is headed for Xavier.
Castlin will play for new Xavier coach Travis Steele, who was hired Mar. 29 following the departure of Chris Mack, who left for Louisville (thereby prompting Boudreaux to reopen his recruitment).
A Marietta, Ga. native, Castlin did not play in 2016-17 following toe surgery and missed 10 nonconference games this past season after sustaining a deep elbow bruise.
But Castlin was a dynamic force for the Lions, particularly in his rookie season, when he averaged 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, starting all of Columbia’s 28 games that season. A capable three-point shooter, he averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 boards per contest during his career at Columbia.
While Kyle had an excellent freshman year-the partial year that Kyle had this year was superior to that one. Kyle had an unbelievably high court IQ this year. His conference free throw percentage of 94.6% would have been the top in the country, had he shot free throws as well in non conference as conference(he finished just behind Alex Copeland in FT percentage in the Ivy League) Over all , Castlin shot an 88.4% free throw percentage this year. He shot 49.9% from the field and was unstoppable on short to midrange shots, a rare talent.He was unstoppable in three Ivy games. He deserved at least Ivy league honorable mention and had an excellent game against Villanova in the game he got injured (Columbia lost to Villanova by 15, Kansas lost by 16). Another Columbia player who will helpas Grant Mullins did a very highly ranked team.