DJ Steward Talks Blue Blood Offers and Recent Visits
Whitney Young 2020 point guard DJ Steward has a ton of momentum on the recruiting trail after a strong showing at Peach Jam. He has as much buzz as any prospect in the state and it is showing with the offers that he is landing. In the past few days the guard has scored offers from both Duke and North Carolina. We caught up with Chicago standout to get the latest beginning with getting an offer from Duke right after Peach Jam.
“Coach K text me early in the morning and asked if I had any time to talk. I responded yes and he called right away. He told me he loved how I played and competed all week and how I could score the ball so well. When he told me he was offering me I was super excited and pumped. It was a crazy feeling.”
What stands out about the Blue Devils?
“I love how they recruit the best players to play alongside each other and they all come together for one big goal. I love their pace and how they play and Coach K is a great coach. Coach Scheyer has been on me since freshman year.”
On Wednesday their ACC rivals North Carolina extended a scholarship offer.
“I talked to an assistant coach a couple days ago and he told me that Coach Williams was going to call me sometime soon. Coach Williams said he was very impressed with how I could score the ball with the ball in my hands. I love how they also play up tempo and they have scored the most points in the NCAA. Coach Williams is another great coach!”
With the two blue blood offers in hand how has that changed his recruitment from what he was thinking prior to Peach Jam?
“Those schools that were already on me will get their respect for sure! It’s great getting these two offers, but I still have to consider those other schools who’ve been on me and the coaches I’ve built relationships with.”
He has already visited Texas officially. The Longhorns are heavily in the mix. Indiana has been seriously involved for a while as well. Recently he took an unofficial visit down the state to see Illinois. Steward broke down the visit to see what the Illini have to offer.
“It was great. Got to see the campus and the stadium. The facilities were really nice! Illinois said they have a plan for me to be great and that I could come in and fill Ayo’s (Dosunmu) role.”
Around the same time he took another unofficial visit to Louisville.
“The visit to Louisville was great as well! They said I can come in and fill it up right away and have the ball in my hands. I loved their facilities and their stadium. It’s huge and I hear it’s always packed out.”
What is the next step in his recruitment?
“I definitely want to try to cut my list in a couple weeks.”
The Meanstreets star says he doesn’t have any visits lined up yet.