Marlon Stewart (#1 | 6-1 | 210 | G | Fr.)
Some freshmen show up on campus and quickly realize how far behind they are physically. That was far from the case with North Scott, Iowa product Marlon Stewart. At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, he’s a big, strong guard who has the appearance of someone who is ready to face other Big East back courts. However, like most freshmen, there are those head-spinning moments where it takes time to learn a new system and how to translate high school skills into college level skills. Combine that with a knee injury just when it looked like he was starting to figure things out, and it might have Stewart struggling to find meaningful minutes when he returns to the floor, which brings up the question of whether or not he will redshirt during the 2015-16 season.
No matter what his role will be come game time, he has plenty of talent that can be a handful for the starters and reserves in practice. He spent a lot of time in the gym getting up extra shots and it was starting to show prior to the injury. He can handle the ball well, is strong enough to drive and finish inside, and brings a physicality defensively that the Bluejay back court will surely see against the top competition they’ll face in the non-conference and in Big East play. Along with transfer Marcus Foster, Stewart should give the Creighton coaches plenty of options to simulate the kind of athleticism and skill the Bluejays will be facing against the likes of Arizona State, Oklahoma, Indiana, and the rest of the Big East.
North Scott High School (Eldridge, Iowa)
- name First Team All-State by the Iowa Newspaper Association
- averaged 17.0 points and 3.5 assists per game as a senior
- averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game as a junior
Head Coach Greg McDermott on Stewart:
“He was just kind of starting to turn the corner before he got hurt. I think he had a little better understanding of our system, where he needed to have his teammates on the floor, and what his role was as a point guard in the offense. He’s always been really solid defensively. It’s unfortunate that he got hurt.”
5-on-5 with Marlon Stewart
Q: What were some of the factors in why you decided to play at Creighton?
A: “A lot of things. When I came on my visit the coaches and the players made it seem like everybody, the community, was together.”
Q: What has been the most challenging part of the transition from high school to college?
A: “Having to compete every play. Being in the right spots on every play. The level of the intensity and how much you have to communicate. Pretty much all of the little things and stuff like that. A lot of stuff that you don’t have to do in high school or things that you can get away with, you won’t get away with that at this level.”
Q: The team was picked ninth in the preseason poll. What did you think of that selection, and what are your expectations for this group this season?
A: “I really can’t say much about it. We have pretty much a brand new team this year, a lot of newcomers, so you can’t really get mad at people for that. They have to base it off of what we did last year. But we have a brand new team and I think we’re going to shock a lot of people this year.”
Q: When the schedule was released which game or trip did you circle as one you were looking forward to the most?
A: “I wouldn’t say I circled one game. I’m excited to play all of the games. Just excited to get out there and compete and win, and just shock a lot of people that have us ninth in the conference.”
Q: When your time at Creighton is over what will you have hoped to accomplish in your career as a Bluejay?
A: “I just want to get better. I want to win, and get a national championship. That should be the ultimate goal. If you can get that you should be pretty proud of yourself and proud of the team.”