Stewart Jr. Named Bailey Howell Trophy Finalist

by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications

JACKSON, Mississippi – Mississippi State's D.J. Stewart Jr. will look to continue the program's recent streak of success as the redshirt sophomore was named one of three finalists for the 2021 C Spire Bailey Howell Trophy announced Monday by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

The trophy is awarded annually to the best male college basketball player in the Magnolia State. Stewart Jr. is joined by Ole Miss' Devontae Shuler and Jackson State's Tristan Jarrett as this year's finalists.

The winner will be announced as part of a virtual ceremony in two weeks, May 24, hosted by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

The Bulldogs will look to keep the Howell Trophy in Starkville for a fourth consecutive season. Quinndary Weatherspoon captured the award in 2018 and 2019, while Reggie Perry was the 2020 recipient.

Stewart Jr., an All-SEC Second-Team and NIT All-Tournament Team pick, was one of four Power 5 players to amass over 500-plus points and 100-plus assists in 2020-21. He became the first player in program history to rack up 20-plus points during three consecutive postseason games in a NCAA or NIT when he tallied 20 points against Saint Louis (03/20), 22 points versus Richmond (03/25) and 23 points against Louisiana Tech (03/27).

Stewart Jr. fired in double figures 26 times and eclipsed the 20-point barrier on nine occasions last season. His 528 points were sixth-highest for a sophomore in program history, while his two-year total of 792 points is the 11th-highest for a MSU player following his sophomore season.

Stewart Jr. was one of three players to finish among the SEC's top 15 in 20-plus point games (9 – 5th), points per game (16.0 – T-9th), field goal percentage (41.0 – 10th), free throw percentage (80.6 – 11th), assists per game (3.1 – 12th), steals per game (1.4 – 13th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.0 – 14th). The two additional SEC players were Florida's Tre Mann and Vanderbilt's Scotty Pippen Jr.

Stewart Jr.'s career-high is 32 points against Dayton (12/12), and his SEC season's best is 29 points at South Carolina (02/06). He drained the game-winning triple with two seconds remaining during State's NIT Quarterfinal victory over Richmond (03/25) and nearly compiled a triple-double with a career-best 10 assists, coupled with nine points and seven rebounds during the Maroon and White's SEC Tournament win over Kentucky (03/12).

Stewart Jr. was joined by Iverson Molinar and Tolu Smith to combine for 45.3 points per game, which marked the SEC's second-highest scoring trio during the 2020-21 campaign, only behind LSU's Cameron Thomas, Trendon Watford and Javonte Smart. The trio accounted for 72 combined games in double figures and accounted for three of the SEC's top 9 freshman-sophomore jumps in 2020-21. The Bulldogs produced a 10-2 record when all three members of the trio hit for double-digit points during the same game.

Mississippi State captured a runner-up finish at the 2021 NIT as the Bulldogs earned a bid in postseason play for the third consecutive time when postseason tournament have been played. State won seven of its last 10 games, highlighted by a combined five NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 victories down the stretch.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Stewart Jr. Named Bailey Howell Trophy Finalist

Players Mentioned

Iverson Molinar

Reggie Perry

Tolu Smith III

D.J. Stewart Jr.

Mississippi State University Athletics