John Stewart
School and Year (1997-98) Lawrence North HS, IN - Senior
Height and Weight 7'0 275lbs
Position Center
97-98 Ratings Top150(RUSA), #284 (HS)
Academically Eligible --
Status Verbal to Kentucky 9/22
AAU team No Excuses
Player Summary ·
Player News ·
Game Stats ·
Season Stats ·
Honors ·
IHSAA Schedule
John Stewart is a handful at 7'0 and 270+ pounds. He is currently at
Lawrence North high school, his third school in as many years. At Lawrence
North, he is getting the playing time he has been looking for.
Stewart has great hands (right handed) and has a soft touch. The
typical basketball cliche fits that he runs the floor and finishes well.
But he needs to work on being more aggressive. He understands fundamental
footwork, but sometimes has trouble getting those big feet moving. Last
year some might have used the labels "lazy" and "soft", but he has made good
improvement this season with more of a role on the team. By his senior season
his rather raw sophomore game should be up to speed, making him a likely
candidate for a high-major program.
Big John's junior season turned out to be a breakout season for him,
benefitting from a new school and some experienced post coaching. John's
averages have blossomed to 15 points per game along with 10.5 rebounds
and 2.9 blocks, and his game is improving. Boosting his performance has
been the loss of 50 pounds since his arrival at Lawrence North. He is
moving very well and the increase in endurance is noticable. Now that
the recruiting services have found out who he is, you hear a lot about
how he labors up and down the court. Do NOT believe it. Although he
is still carrying some weight around the hips, he runs very well and
can have games where he gets up and down faster than anyone. The "lazy"
and "soft" labels can officially be retired.
Stewart has a list of five that includes Purdue, Michigan, Michigan
State, Georgetown and Kentucky.
9-23-98...Stewart has officially announced for the University of
Kentucky. For more info on the announcement, check out this Indy Star
article.
9-22-98...An announcement will come today on whether John Stewart will
be a Boilermaker or a Wildcat. Bob Gibbons, Hoop Scoop, and Channel 13 in
Indianapolis are all reporting the choice will be Kentucky. Keep in mind that
Gibbons and Hoop Scoop also claimed Magloire would choose Purdue over Kentucky
two years ago. But coming so closely after his visit to Kentucky, it looks
like Stewart will be leaving the state.
9-19-98...After playing host to both Purdue and Kentucky in his
home, Stewart will now take official visits to each campus and decide within
the next few weeks where he wants to go. Stewart is on the Kentucky campus
this weekend, and will visit Purdue the weekend of October 2nd. He has
unofficially visited both campuses before. According to the J&C, both
Michigan and Michigan State have been eliminated.
9-17-98...Stewart was host to the Purdue staff in his home on Tuesday,
and it looks like a two man race between Purdue and Kentucky at this point.
9-2-98...The recruitment of John Stewart is heating up, as expected
after having a good summer of competition. Stewart most recently has visited
Kentucky, but also reportedly visited Michigan with Region star Ricky Wright.
Kentucky has offers out to a couple of other big kids, so Stewart would have
to wait until the top of the list moves around a bit. Georgetown's John
Thompson got the word to Stewart that he was going to attend July's Nike Camp
to see Stewart in action, and reportedly offered a scholarship. Future Stars'
Van Coleman was also at the Nike Camp checking out Stewart and told a
Kentucky newspaper that Stewart would be in the NBA someday.
7-11-98...If you look above at his player summary, you see the
labels "soft" and "lazy". Since John has come so far in the past year, it is
time for an update. John's junior season turned out to be a breakout season
for him, benefitting from a new school and some experienced post coaching.
His averages have blossomed to 15 points per game along with 10.5 rebounds
and 2.9 blocks, and his game is improving. Boosting his performance has
been the loss of 50 pounds since his arrival at Lawrence North. He is
moving very well and the increase in endurance is noticable. Now that
the recruiting services have found out who he is, you hear a lot about
how he labors up and down the court. Do NOT believe it. Although he
is still carrying some weight around the hips, he runs very well and
can have games where he gets up and down faster than anyone. The "lazy"
and "soft" labels can officially be retired.
Stewart has a list of five that includes Purdue, Michigan, Michigan
State, Georgetown and Kentucky. Although exposure wasn't the goal, he used
the Nike Camp to try to gain some respect as one of the nation's best
centers. This article from the Indianapolis Star sums up the week at camp.
7-4-98...A new article on Big John from the Indianapolis Star.
7-1-98...Peegs from the IU Basketball Recruiting Site attended the
Indiana AAU State Tournament last weekend, and has this scouting report on
John Stewart.
7-1-98...Stewart will be joining No Excuses teammate Jason Gardner
at the Nike Camp next week in Indianapolis.
5-5-98...In a conversation with Lawrence North head coach Jack
Keefer, Purdue is still in contact with John Stewart. "They've done a very
good job in keeping in touch," said Keefer, "and that means a lot." Several
other Big Ten schools, plus Carolina and Georgetown have also been in contact.
Most are on a "wait and see" basis, as Stewart continues to develop his game
and his body. Down to 260-pounds now, from a high of over 300-pounds at one
time, his athletic abilities are beginning to shine through. Changing schools
3 times in 3 years hasn't helped his grades any, but Keefer says Lawrence
North has him on the right path and Stewart is really working hard on his
academics. John averaged 15 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this year,
adding just over 2 blocks and 3 fouls per game. Expect his recruitment to
pick up as scouts begin to see his rather fluid moves come out as his
conditioning continues to improve.
4-30-98...Stewart will be playing in Mackey Arena this weekend
along with his AAU team "No Excuses". No Excuses early games are on FRI 6:00P
Court 1 (Mackey), FRI 9:00P Court 9 (Co-Rec) and SAT 2:00P Court 3 (IAF).
2-28-98...Lawrence North captured the MIC conference title on Friday
with a decisive 63-44 victory over 4A #9 Terre Haute North. LN finishes the
regular season 11-9, 5-2 in conference. Big John finished with a double-
double with 12 points and 11 boards.
12-20-97...With 13 points from Stewart, Lawrence North knocked off
4A #8 Kokomo in overtime 57-50. Lawrence North had four players finish in
double figures as Kokomo dropped its second overtime game in two days. Stewart
used all but one foul in the game. Kokomo coach Basil Mawbey said on a
Saturday morning coaches radio show that Stewart reminded him of former
Kokomo 7-footer Duane Johns. Johns, however, took a wrong turn in school
and out and was forced to sit his senior year and ended up in junior college
in Florida. His junior year he was getting major attention from Indiana.
It can only be hoped that Stewart reminds Mawbey of Johns in talent only.
11-30-97...Stewart has been named as a "Player To Watch" by Athlon
Basketball.
11-26-97...A 97-98 season preview by the Indianapolis Star.
DATE MIN FG FGA FT FTA 3P 3PA RB A B S PTS
--------------------------------------------------
05-02-98 3 0 0 6 Lost 54- Bloomington Red 66
05-02-98 7 3 0 17 Won 69- Memphis Sounds 61
05-02-98 0 1 0 1 Lost 60- Spiece South 70
05-01-98 6 2 0 14 Won 88- Salt Lake 84
05-01-98 7 2 0 16 Lost 65- LA Rockfish 74
03-06-98 7 10 2 3 4 16 Lost 59- Warren Central 61
02-27-98 11 12 Won 63- #9 TH North 44
02-20-98 10 2 2 22 Lost 63- Lafayette Jeff 64
02-13-98 6 11 3 4 8 15 Won 56- Warren Central 55
02-07-98 15 16 Won 57- Center Grove 53
01-31-98 12 5 21 Won 72- North Central 69
01-30-98 9 23 Won 62- Broad Ripple 50
01-24-98 15 13 Won 57- Richmond 40
01-03-98 17 Won 53- Tech 42
12-20-97 6 8 1 2 13 Won 57- #8 Kokomo 50 OT
12-19-97 12 17 Lost 48- New Castle 57
12-12-97 14 17 Won 45- Carmel 39
12-06-97 16 Lost 40- #3 Marion 43
11-30-97 18 Lost 49- #8 Indy Pike 83
Season thru PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG APG SPG BPG RECORD RANK
------------------------------------------------------------------
97-98 season 15.0 .518 10.5 2.9 12-10 --
02-21-98 15.3 .509 11.0 2.9 10-9 --
02-09-98 14.7 11.1 4.0 10-6 --
01-14-98 14.1 9.2 2.1 6-4 --
01-07-98 14.1 9.2 2.2 5-3 --
12-13-97 13.8 10.6 2.2 3-2 --
97-98 season All-County Second Team (Indy Star)
Underclassman All-State Honorable Mention (IBCA)
Date Day Time Opponent
---- --- ---- --------------------
11/26/97 WED @ Lawrence Central
11/29/97 SAT L @ Terre Haute South
12/06/97 SAT L @ Marion
12/12/97 FRI W Carmel
12/13/97 SAT Ben Davis
12/19/97 FRI L @ New Castle
12/20/97 SAT W @ Kokomo
01/03/98 SAT W @ Indy Tech
01/12/98 MON WL County Tournament
01/23/98 FRI @ Franklin Central
01/24/98 SAT W Richmond
01/30/98 FRI W Broad Ripple
01/31/98 SAT W @ North Central
02/07/98 SAT W Center Grove
02/10/98 TUE L Anderson
02/13/98 FRI W @ Warren Central
02/14/98 SAT L Connersville
02/20/98 FRI L Lafayette Jeff
02/27/98 FRI W Terre Haute North
03/03/98 TUE 7:30P W Sectional vs Indy Tech (@ Franklin Central)
03/06/98 FRI 7:30P L Sectional vs Warren Central (@ Franklin Central)
* Times not available *
* To confirm game time call Lawrence North HS *
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