It’s been almost 20 years, but it shows JJ Reddick He still holds a grudge against UConn.
The former Duke star and one of college basketball’s most polarizing players let his feelings show while being interviewed as a 2024 NBA draft prospect. Matas Bozelis for a popular podcast, The old man and the three.
Reddick host Tommy Alter asked Buzelis, who is a 2023 McDonald’s All-American selected to play in the NBA G League next season, If there was one player in his high school class of 2023 who stood out for it.
Buzelis wasted no time in name-dropping UConn committing to Stefon Castle.
“At the McDonald’s game, when I was there, it hit me. Stefon Castle, he’s so good. He’s my favorite player in our class,” said Bozelis. “He’s a 6-7 point guard, he can pass really well. The way he sees the court is crazy.
This video is everything. Steve’s Castle Love + JJ Riddick is disappointed to find out he’s going for it #yukon From all places 😂 pic.twitter.com/nP5WdWDplg
– Mr. Smith 👑 (@BadChoiceMilk) June 28, 2023
“I remember one possession when we were in training at McDonald’s, I’m standing in the left corner, he’s kind of like a right winger. And he’s looking at me off, I’m not really open but the assistant defender is slowly sliding in, the one who’s guarding me. And he’s looking at his side of the corner and throws Like a bullet straight across the court, straight into my hand. I can already see it’s legit, just from that possession.”
Intrigued, Riddick Bozelis asked where Castle would go to college.
Bozelis replied, “Ukon.”
Riddick replied in disgust.
“The rich get richer,” said Alter.
“There are like three schools you can name there. I’ll be like Bleep and UConn is one of them.”
“You don’t like UConn?” Buzelis asked.
Here’s the second part of the clip where Redick has to explain why UConn has him and Duke🤣🤣 https://t.co/7fT6gYCinJ pic.twitter.com/A7GsFkC52Z
– Alex – Ban UConn Fan (@NotAburks41) June 28, 2023
“Well, I don’t have anything against the program,” said Riddick, writhing in his chair, “it’s just, you know, my only Final Four appearance they beat us by one point.” “So. And my all-time favorite Duke team was the 99ers, who lost to UConn in the championship. To me, it’s UConn, Maryland and you can probably guess the third school.”
Buzelis can — he is, of course, the biggest competitor of Duke, UNC.
Reddick, who won the Naismith and Wooden Awards as National Player of the Year in 2006, He was a sophomore in the 2004 Duke program Team that lost to UConn, 79-78 in the National Semifinals. Despite all the hype surrounding Duke’s teams, they would never reach the Final Four again in his college career. Led by Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, Okon went on to win the national title in 2004.
Castle is a five-star recruit who was rated the No. 9 player in the Class of 2023 by ESPN. He is part of an upcoming freshman class of the fourth-ranked Huskies in the nation 247Sports.com.
Although it’s early, Buzelis is expected to be a top pick in next year’s NBA draft, Projected by ESPN as No. 1 overall.
College basketball fans won’t have to watch him light up their teams, since he plays for the G League Ignite next season, but Redick may have to watch Castle as he looks to help UConn defend its national title.