COLLEGE REPORT: David Castillo drops in 17 points for K-State
By Mike Tupa
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Eleven games into his college basketball career David Castillo (6-1, 180) has made a pair of starts as a true freshman guard for Kansas State.
The former Bartlesville High School hardwood hero has played in all 11 games, including starts against Drake and Wichita State.
A stellar effort on Dec. 1 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff — 17 points with five treys and two steals — is the shining apex of his young career. Castillo’s state line suggests he’s still trying to develop more offensive consistency.
He’s averaging 3.4 ppg, shooting 24 percent from the field but is nearly perfect on free throws (8-of-9).
A five-point spot back in mid-November against Mississippi Valley is his second-highest point total.
Castillo came into the season the lone true freshman on the Kansas State roster.
In his three years at Bartlesville High he set the Bruin career scoring record with 1,594 points (23.7 ppg), including three 40-point outputs.
His senior year (2023-24) Castillo transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy, a prep school that plays a high-powered national schedule and prepares players for the college game.
Castillo also was a key member and two-time gold medalist on national teams that won international tournaments.
His older brother Antonio also starred at Bartlesville High during the mid-2010s and an older sister Letricia is one of the top women’s basketball players in Air Force Academy history.
He also has a sister Gloria who is the head Pom coach at Bartlesville High.
They are the children of Bartlesville residents Nate and Hilda Castillo.
Going into his junior season (2022-23) Castillo already had received approximately two-dozen offers from major college programs, but settled on Kansas State, which also was the alma mater of his Bartlesville High coach Clent Stewart.
During Castillo’s sophomore season (2021-22), Bartlesville muscled to a winning record (12-11), barely missing out on advancing to the area playoff round.
David Castillo at Bartlesville High School.