Get to Know DJ Steward

Shooting guard DJ Steward is in his second year with the Stockton Kings and is continuing to make an impact on the offensive end, averaging 15 points per game for the 2022-23 season. 

Steward has played basketball since middle school, having played travel ball with MeanStreets in the EYBL circuit. He averaged 24.1 points and shot 41 percent from 3-point range in the summer of 2019 with MeanStreets. 

Steward began his high school career at Fenwick High School in Illinois before transferring to play his final two years of high school for Whitney Young High School. During his senior year, he averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds.  

In the Highland Shootout in January 2020, Steward scored a tournament-high of 40 points, including the game-tying bucket in a 66-64 victory over Christian Brothers College High School. He was named a McDonald's All-American in 2020. 

As a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best shooting guards in Duke’s 2020 class, Steward was named Illinois Player of the Year by the Chicago Sun Times and Prep Hoops in 2020. 

2020 proved to be a remarkable year for Steward as he ranked as the No. 23 player overall and the No. 2 player in the state of Illinois in ESPN 100’s rankings for the class of 2020. 

Steward committed to play at Duke University on Sept. 18, 2019, after turning down offers from DePaul, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, North Carolina and Texas. 

During his debut at Duke, he scored 24 points in an 81-71 win against Coppin State. This stands as the fourth most by a Duke freshman in a debut game and the most off the bench by a Blue Devil freshman in a debut game. 

During his freshman year he led all ACC freshmen in scoring while averaging 13 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. 

He was named to the preseason watch list for the Jerry West Award, presented to the nation’s best shooting guard for the 2021-22 season. 

After joining the Sacramento Kings for 2021 Summer League, Steward signed with the Stockton Kings as an affiliate player for the 2021-22 season. 

Throughout his first season with the Stockton Kings, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists within 30 games. 

The youngest player on the Stockton Kings continues to look towards a spot on an NBA roster.