Starkville Daily News

Stewart Jr. of MSU starts NBA process

- By DANNY P. SMITH

Playing in the National Basketball Associatio­n has been a dream for Mississipp­i State guard D.J. Stewart ever since he was a child.

The next couple of months will determine whether Stewart tries to move ahead with an NBA career or put it off for at least one more year.

On Thursday, the sophomore guard of the Bulldogs announced on social media that he was at least going to enter the NBA process.

Stewart will not hire an agent to maintain his college eligibilit­y.

“First of all, I would like to thank God for blessing me with the talent to play the game of basketball,” Stewart wrote on Twitter. “Playing in the NBA has always been a goal of mine since I was a child and I’ve worked relentless­ly to be able to achieve that goal.

“I would like to thank my parents, my family, my coaching staff, my teammates and my Mississipp­i State family for their support through this process.”

Stewart, who has already been projected from the second overall pick to not being taken at all by some NBA mock drafts, was the second-leading scorer for MSU last season behind Iverson Molinar with 16 points per game. He started all 33 games for the Bulldogs.

From the field, Stewart made 186-of-454 shots for 41%, including 52-of-151 made baskets from 3-point range for 34%. He hit 104of-129 free-throw attempts for 81%.

Stewart, who pulled down 3.4 rebounds per outing and led MSU with 103 assists and 47 steals, was selected All-southeaste­rn Conference second team and picked to the All-national Invitation­al Tournament Team.

 ??  ?? Mississipp­i State guard D.J. Stewart Jr. announces that he was entering the NBA process on Thursday. (Photo by Austin Perryman, MSU Athletics, for Starkville Daily News)
Mississipp­i State guard D.J. Stewart Jr. announces that he was entering the NBA process on Thursday. (Photo by Austin Perryman, MSU Athletics, for Starkville Daily News)
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States