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NY2LA: Four-star guard D.J. Steward breaks down new interest

RANKINGS: 2019 Rivals150 | 2019 Team rankings | 2019 Position rankings

2020 Rivals150 | 2020 Position rankings

Top 75 of 2021

D.J. Steward
D.J. Steward (Bob Blanchard / Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame)
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MEQUON, Wisc. -- One of the most heavily recruited guards in the Midwest, combo guard D.J. Steward has proven that he can score. Now he wants to show that he can run a team.

The 6-foot-2 junior at Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young had a strong junior season scoring the ball. But, he and his teammates fell just short of some goals and he's looking to show from here on out that he's just as capable of making plays for others as he eyes his college future.

"I feel it went pretty well, I got really comfortable with my teammates and we played well together but sadly it came up short," Steward said. "Next year we are going to get back on it and win a state championship.

"I'm trying to work on being a point guard more. That's what I need to be at the next level so I'm just trying to tighten my ball-handling skills, working on pick-and-roll and finding my teammates."

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Steward isn't lacking for interest. Illinois, Texas, Xavier, DePaul, Marquette, St. Louis, Loyola, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois State, Northwestern, Creighton and Marquette are among those who have already offered while Louisville is also involved. More recently, Steward has heard from Arizona, Duke and Maryland. He discussed interest from those programs, where he wants to take an official visit and his home state Illinois.

Arizona: "They said that they saw me play last summer and they said that they really like my game. They said to just continue to play how I play, keep playing hard and that everything will fall into place."

Duke: "I was very excited to hear from them. Coach (Jon) Scheyer called, he's from the Chicago area, so it was just cool to have Duke hit me up. I was so excited and I'm just trying to grind this summer so I can rack up the offers."

Illinois: "Coach Chin (Coleman) is always in contact and making sure that I know I could come in there and have a chance to play right away. They want me to help rebuild the program and put on for the state."

Maryland: "They say that I could come in and play right away. They told me to just keep playing hard and that they'll be in touch a lot and that they'll come see me during the live sessions."

Texas: "I really want to get down to Texas for an official visit. Coach (Neill) Berry and coach Shaka (Smart) they are great people and stay in contact with me a lot. They are really down to Earth."

WHAT'S NEXT, RIVALS' REACTION....

Steward is one of the fastest guards in the country, he is explosive at the rim and he has added the ability to shoot the three as he's gone through high school. If he can make a move to full time point guard, he could really enhance his standing nationally and physically, he's got some similarities to De'Aaron Fox at the same age.

Figuring out who may or may not lead for him at this point isn't easy. Steward appears to be pretty wide open and is focused on competing first and then getting to his recruitment after the summer with Meanstreets in Nike's EYBL.

"I'm just trying to show that I can compete with anybody and that I'm one of the top players in the country," said Steward. "I just want to win Peach Jam, that's the main goal.

"Definitely at the end of the summer is when I'm trying to make my list. There's not anybody right now that I'm sure of (will make it)."

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