Next up in the absolutely loaded class of 2023 for the Huskies is their third highest-rated recruit, Jaylin Stewart. The 6-7 forward from Seattle, WA is incredibly talented and can really make the defense pay from a number of different areas on the floor. He’s the lone west-coast recruit from not only this class, but also any other at UConn for coach Dan Hurley. His commitment demonstrated Hurley’s recruiting abilities shifting to the national scale, an accomplishment that can’t be understated. So what will the 4-star bring to the table? Let’s dive into it.
SCOUTING REPORT
It’s fully possible that Stewart has the most diverse offensive profile of anyone in the class. He doesn’t shy away from contact and is a fantastic dunker. He has deceptive bounce, where it doesn’t look like he’s getting as high as he actually is. Not only is Stewart able to do this on the fastbreak, a place where he excels, he’s also able to dunk on people in a number of different ways in the halfcourt, especially lobs. Dunking doesn’t always translate to the college level from high school, so it’s encouraging to see how polished his layup package is. He can convert through bumps thanks to his firm build and is also able to get up and under the basket. Defense doesn’t faze him, a welcome sign for his success moving forward.
As a shooter, Stewart is perhaps equally skilled and if not, it's close. He can get buckets from a number of spots and forces the defense to stretch considerably. His excellent driving game allows him to use fakes well which help him get free in the midrange. His midrange game is strong, but is boosted by his abilities from other spots.
One of those other spots is the 3-point line, a location he will help the Huskies out a lot from next year. He’s able to hit open shots, which is valuable, but he can also do much more. He’s spent a lot of his time in high school as the primary ball handler, which gives him experience creating shots of his own. Stewart does a good job there, using not only a traditional crossover, but also a Jayson Tatum-esque side step three that is tough to guard with his size. There’s a lot to like with his offensive game and it’ll just continue to get better as time goes on.
On the other end of the floor, he’s solid, which leads to buckets on offense. His long frame allows him to defend well on the ball. As a helper, he can get blocks, something that players have had great success with under Hurley. The only concern for Stewart is that he didn’t play for a renowned high school like some others, but that aside, there’s a lot to like.
STORRS IMPACT
In Connecticut, Stewart will be a key rotational piece from day one. He possesses great abilities to start at some point in the season, and maybe even early if Andre Jackson Jr. stays in the NBA Draft. If he doesn’t, Stewart will definitively provide a great spark off the bench with his great offensive skill set.
If he doesn’t slot in as the backup or starting small forward in a bigger lineup, he can also serve as an effective smaller four. He’s really perfect for that role too, as someone with nice size who plays with the pace and agility of a guard. Especially with the size of Donovan Clingan inside, there really isn’t the need for someone bigger than Stewart at the four. However, with Alex Karaban occupying most of the power forward minutes and Samson Johnson also likely vying for time behind Karaban, there’s a lot more room for Stewart at the three.
Looking at things from further out, Stewart could be a star for the team in the 2024-25 season. Especially if Stephon Castle goes for the NBA Draft after a year, there are few clearer options to lead the Huskies then. Although it’s not common that players rated as low as Stewart leave for the draft after two years, it feels like he’s a sneaky pick to do so. He has the skill set, but just needs to put things together as others have under Hurley. Until then, there’s a lot of games to play and win in his Connecticut jersey.
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