Five-star Isaiah Stewart hopes to narrow list soon
RANKINGS: 2018 Rivals150 | 2019 Rivals150 | 2020 Rivals150 | 2018 Team
BURLINGTON, N.J. – Isaiah Stewart made a giant leap up the rankings today, rising from No. 32 in the Rivals150 into the top 10. The rankings bump reflects the improvement the 6-foot-8 forward has made in his game, which is something college programs have definitely noticed.
Stewart's recruitment remains open heading into the summer. Georgetown, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Washington and Indiana have been in to see him within the past week alone. He did tell Rivals.com that Duke, Texas, Villanova, Syracuse and Kansas also remain in close contact.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Duke: “They told me straight up that I am their top target to get at my position but they do want to get another big man and a versatile guy, someone like Vernon Carey or Matthew Hurt, but they said they are also recruiting Armando (Bacot). Coach K thinks very highly of me. He always compares me to Elton Brand and he says that I give him the same type of feeling that he had in the past when he had him and other great guys that he had coached. He told me that he thinks that there is a zero percent chance that I would come to Duke that I wouldn’t be great. He thinks so highly of me that I could go in and do great things.”
Michigan State: “They are great. Me and coach (Tom) Izzo talk every other day along with coach (Dane) Fife. Michigan State is a great fit. They think that I am a perfect guy for them with the way that they play, with my toughness and what their program is about. They said that they need a really tough guy in their class, especially at my position, and Izzo just says that he thinks that I could go to Michigan State and be a double-double guy and develop and grow there. He really loves me.”
Notre Dame: “They talked to me about Bonzie (Colson) in terms of developing and have showed what they want to do with me. I feel like Notre Dame, you can’t go wrong. Coach (Mike) Brey, he is a really great guy, and I have a good relationship with him and also coach (Ryan) Ayers and the rest of the staff.”
Texas: “Coach (Shaka) Smart and I are tight; we talk a lot. He FaceTimes me a lot and we just have a great relationship. He is great and Texas is a great school. I know that they have had a great past with players at my position and he thinks very highly of me. It is a great conference, the Big 12, and it is a place that I could go and play well at.”
Syracuse: “I grew up watching Syracuse and I know everything about them. I know them the best out of anyone recruiting me since I lived in Rochester and I grew up watching them. I have been there a number of times and me and G-Mac (Gerry McNamara), that is my boy, he always messes around with me.”
WHAT'S NEXT?
Stewart has no visits planned at the time being, though he would like to narrow things down in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, Stewart will begin his final travel ball season this weekend as he kicks off play with the Albany City Rocks 17-under unit at the Nike EYBL in Dallas.
RIVALS' REACTION
Stewart is the ideal, small-ball center in today’s game at 6-foot-8 and sporting a 7-foot-2 wingspan. He has become more explosive in recent months, remains a diligent worker within the paint, has improved his off-hand and consistently finishes with sparkling stat lines.
Stewart's recruitment remains fluid as top programs continue to show attention. Look for the five-star to narrow things down to a group of eight or 10 in the near future.