Isaiah Stewart set to cut list soon, will focus on high school season
WHEELING, W. Va. – Isaiah Stewart's recruitment has remained on a steady uptick over the last two years, and the four-star big man has plenty of college suitors.
“Things are great," he said. "A lot of schools are staying in contact and a lot of people are wondering when I am going to cut my list. It is coming soon but I think that I am just going to focus on my high school season right now and the list, it is going to get cut some time soon.”
Stewart said that Texas, Xavier, Notre Dame and Duke were standing out in his recruitment at this point.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Texas: “Coach (Shaka) Smart and really, I talk to the whole coaching staff. We talk a lot. They just say that I am their No. 1 priority.”
Xavier: “Even though it is a small school, they are having a great season right now.”
Duke: “Me and coach (Jon) Scheyer, we talk a lot and call a lot, whatever it is. We have been talking about me getting down there and whenever I can take a visit, to take an official visit there. They have had some guys talk an official visit there early and ended up falling in love with Duke and they think that could happen with me.
“Coach K told me to watch Wendell (Carter) and Marvin (Bagley III), and that he wants to bring in two bigs in the 2019 class to do the same thing. Coach K thinks I am a very easy big guy to play with. He is making a push and tells me that he is very anxious to get me to Duke. It is a great place and a great atmosphere.”
WHAT'S NEXT
Stewart will finish out his high school season before narrowing his school list. He is mainly looking for a good relationship with the program and its coaches.
"I want to be able to connect with you and talk with you," he said. "Also, development and improvement; I want to be able to go somewhere that I can impact right away but also get better. I just want to go somewhere that is the best place for me."
Expect for Stewart to patiently play out his recruitment when it comes to setting and taking visits.
“I am going to wait it out and plan it around my list,” he said. “I definitely plan on taking all five of my official visits. I think it is the smart thing to do.”
RIVALS' REACTION
Stewart is the embodiment of everything that one looks for in a frontcourt prospect; hard-nosed, active, skilled around the basket and boasts character traits that making him unique and cement his standing as a top-35 prospect.
The four-star standout has become a priority prospect for a number of top flight programs in practically all of the major conferences. Duke, Notre Dame, Xavier and Texas seem to be in a good spot for making his upcoming cut list but it seems as if it will be some time before a college commitment takes place.