UNC Basketball: Will offers from Blue Bloods change things for D.J. Steward

Does an offer from the UNC Basketball program change anything in the recruitment for a four-star guard out of Chicago?

Class of 2020 four-star guard D.J. Steward is among the fastest rising players in the class with his play for Whitney Young High School and his AAU team Mean Streets over the past few months.

The Chicago native has been able to elevate his game and is not only one of the top players in the state of Illinois but also in the country. Steward has been heavily recruited by big programs in the Midwest but now some Blue Bloods are getting involved and it could change his recruitment.

After watching him play at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam event, it didn’t take long for a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference rivals to offer the recruit. Duke extended an offer to Steward on Saturday morning during the event and just a few days later, UNC offered the recruit.

Steward now has a total of 19 offers and has taken one visit so far in his recruiting cycle. But things could change now that the two Blue Bloods have officially offered.

Rivals’ reporter Eric Bossi broke down his 10 most intriguing recruitments for the 2020 class and included Steward on his list. Bossi hinted that since UNC and Duke offered, things have been a little harder to read on him in his recruitment:

"Steward took a June official visit to Texas and has been to Illinois and Louisville. Many others had been involved, but headed into June they looked to be the upper tier. Then in July both Duke and North Carolina offered and now the situation has gotten harder to read."

Bossi might be on to something. Steward recently spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times bout his recruitment and told Joe Henricksen that the offers have changed his thought process moving forward. He also hinted at what could be a deciding factor in making his decision:

"“It’s definitely changed my thought process,” Steward says of the uptick in interest from blue blood programs.“I will really be looking at the relationship I have with the coach and coaching staff,” says Steward. “I will look at who will continue to make me a priority and where I can play my game.”"

Steward will take another visit to Louisville in September but does not have any current plans to visit UNC just yet. That could change however and if he does get on campus in Chapel Hill, it could be big for the Tar Heels.

For more on Steward and other UNC Basketball recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.