Mr. Basketball Candidate: Xavier Castaneda
In this series we take a look at the potential candidates for Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois for this upcoming season. Here we profile Whitney Young 2018 point guard Xavier Castaneda.
Profile:
Castaneda is the state’s #2 point guard in the senior class. He is a high IQ point guard with a good feel for getting others involved. Pushes the tempo with his speed in the open floor. He was a big part of the Dolphins state title run last year and will be another key factor in them making a deep run in March again. Castaneda is coming off a solid July with Meanstreets and the camp circuit.
Odds to Win:
15/1
Why He Can Win:
He will have the ball on his hands for one of the most talented teams in the state. Castaneda has been a known name for a while and is ready to make his full impact on the high school game this upcoming season. The senior will be playing in high profile games against other fellow Mr. Basketball candidates. When his game is really on he impacts the game in a multitude of ways with his passing, scoring, and defense.
Obstacles to Win:
Castaneda will be one of several key players for a Whitney Young team that will not have one player dominate the ball or the point production. The fact that they will have the production spread out so much could hurt his or Freeman’s chances. Also he is known more as a prospect coming into the season than dominant high school player so he will have to make a big impression on the voters early in the season to catch their attention.