Stephon Castle is showing off an underrated skill set he's honed since college

Stephon Castle has been the perfect fit in the Spurs' complex backcourt. Coming into the season, there was some skepticism about the fit between him, De'Aaron Fox, and brand-new addition Dylan Harper.

Meshing three guards who would rather have the ball in their hands seemed like a daunting task for any head coach to figure out.

But the fit has been flawless and a catalyst for their consistency throughout the season. Castle is thriving in the system as a true combo guard, finding pockets to score and handling some primary and secondary playmaking duties.

Stephon Castle was well-prepared for the the NBA

Castle's role elasticity and versatility stem back to his time at UConn. As a freshman, he was dropped onto a defending champion Huskies team that returned the majority of its starting lineup, including Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer, and Tristen Newton.

Navigating this sort of situation is not an easy feat for an 18-year-old.

Additionally, this UConn offense relied heavily on off-ball movement, including constant cuts, off-ball screens, and dribble handoffs, to generate efficient looks.

So there were two massive challenges. Castle had to learn quickly how to play amongst experienced collegiate vets. He also had to relinquish the ball-dominant duties he had as one of the best high school players in the country to fit into Dan Hurley's motion offense.

Guess what? He did all of that flawlessly. He blended perfectly into UConn's system, developing chemistry with that group. He helped them achieve a blistering 37-3 regular-season record and their second consecutive NCAA championship. He was a vital piece of one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time.

Stephon Castle's versatile skill set has translated over to the NBA

There is real value in drafting players who have deep NCAA tournament experience. The intangibles that they develop along the way are translatable to the professional level, and that is exactly what we are seeing with Castle here on the Spurs.

Being able to fit with others and adjust rapidly to changing roles is something you'd expect more from a long-time NBA veteran, not a 21-year-old. Stephon is doing that flawlessly this season. He's been great when tasked with off-ball duties next to De'Aaron Fox, cutting to the rim or leaking out in transition.

He's also done amazing work when he's called on as a primary ball-handler. He's orchestrated the offense as a playmaker, creating opportunities for his teammates. He's also breaking defenders for downhill drives to the rim, where he's been elite. He's shooting 61% from the restricted area, well above the league average.

Of course, some improvements can be made. For example, his jump shot isn't falling at an efficient rate; he's draining just 29% from three-point range this season. He could also cut down on turnovers, as his 3.4 per game ranks among the top ten in the NBA.

Nonetheless, he's made things work in an impressive sophomore season and has been a driving force behind the Spurs' push for title contention out West. The backcourt concerns have been put to rest because of Castle's versatility and team-first approach.