Duke Basketball: What are Blue Devils getting in 2020 G D.J. Steward?

Four-star D.J. Steward committed to coach Krzyzewski and Duke Basketball over Texas and Louisville. He joins five-stars Jalen Johnson and Jeremy Roach as the third member of the Blue Devils 2020 class.

DJ Steward, a 6’3 combo guard from Chicago, was ranked as low as 112 last winter by 247Sports before a breakout summer on the Nike EYBL. Steward averaged 24.1 points per game while shooting over 50 percent. After his massive spring and summer, the now-committed Duke Basketball guard Steward rose to 26th in the country and is firmly in the conversation for the McDonald’s All-American game.

Krzyzewski continues to do a good job recruiting the Chicago area. He previously nabbed five-stars Jabari Parker and Jahlil Okafor from the Windy City. Steward has a chance to be Illinois’ first McDonald’s All-American since Jalen Brunson in 2015.

In Steward, the Blue Devils are getting a player that can defend and play both guard spots. This will critical playing with Jalen Johnson, who will likely see a lot of time as the primary ball-handler. At 6’8 Johnson might struggle to guard quicker guards so that is where Steward can step in. Steward is also a capable enough three-point shooter to play off of Johnson and can be an excellent secondary playmaker.

Steward also does not necessarily need the ball to make his team better. He is a heady player that does the little things to help his team win. And when he does have the ball, Steward is a load to handle. He’s not overly fast, but he is a crafty ball handler that can get to where he wants on the court. He uses his deceptive length to finish around the rim. Steward does need to add some weight to his lanky frame, but that should come over time.

Steward is not one of these five-star prospects that are guaranteed to spend just one year in college, but he certainly has the upside to play in the NBA at some point. With Steward, I could see a two-and-done path similar to what Tre Jones will likely do this season. A lot will depend on what the Blue Devils roster looks like next season and how much opportunity he gets.

A class of two five-stars and a four-star would be enough for almost any school in the country, but Duke isn’t just any school. With Steward in the fold, the Blue Devils will turn their attention toward the frontcourt. They are firmly in the lead for four-star forward Henry Coleman. At the center position, look for Coach K to be heavily involved with five-star Walker Kessler and four-star Mark Williams. An x-factor in the Blue Devils 2020 class is Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga currently sits at number one in the 2021 class, but there are rumors the New Jersey native might reclassify up to 2020. If he decides to do so, Duke would be in prime position to land him.