Duke transfer forward Sean Stewart commits to Ohio State

COLUMBUS — Former Duke forward Sean Stewart is transferring to Ohio State. Stewart announced his commitment to the Buckeyes Friday after taking a visit last weekend.

He fills one of two remaining scholarship spots on the Ohio State roster and is the fourth transfer addition of the offseason for new head coach Jake Diebler. The Buckeyes have also brought aboard former Oakland and San Diego State wing Micah Parrish, former Kentucky center Aaron Bradshaw and guard Meechie Johnson, who is back at Ohio State after starring the last two seasons at South Carolina.

Stewart joins the program after playing one season at Duke, where, in just 8.3 minutes per game, he averaged 2.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks. He shot 36-of-63, or 57.1%, from the field, with all but three of those makes counting as “Close 2s,” according to BartTorvik.

Listed at 6-foot-9 and 227 pounds last year, Stewart offered the Blue Devils a blend of size and athleticism as the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 17 overall prospect — and No. 3 power forward — in the 2023 class. The borderline five-star prospect teased his potential throughout his freshman campaign.

He registered six points and five rebounds against Dartmouth in his Duke debut. Two weeks later, he notched his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds versus La Salle. The game before that, he swiped a team-high three steals against Bucknell. His active hands showed up in conference play, too. In fact, he recorded two or more thefts in games versus North Carolina State and Notre Dame.

Stewart logged a block in 11 of his 33 appearances last season, collecting two or more on four separate occasions. Two of those performances came against N.C. State: once in the Elite Eight and once in his aforementioned two-steal outing against the Wolfpack. That March 4 meeting in Raleigh was arguably Stewart’s most impressive showing of the season. He finished with 12 points, five rebounds — including four on the offensive glass — three blocks, two steals and one assist.

His 12 points off the bench were the most he scored all year in ACC play, and he clocked out with a season-high 26 minutes on his tires. Stewart notably piled up nine points and nine rebounds against Louisville in a mere 11 minutes of play on Feb. 28.

In limited action at Duke, he demonstrated his ability to make an impact as a rebounder, shot blocker and interior scorer.

Sean Stewart’s father, Michael, enjoyed an eight-year NBA career. His grandfather, Mike, played at Santa Clara and even earned West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors in 1972. In other words, basketball runs in the Stewart family.

The newest Stewart entered the hardwood’s limelight when he was at Windermere High School in Lake Butler, Florida. He spent the first three years of his high school career there and, as a junior, averaged 20.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per game.

Stewart transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, for his senior year. He committed to Duke back in December 2021, but he also took official visits to Stanford, Georgetown, Michigan and Ohio State during his high school recruitment.

Before reaching college, he won a FIBA World Cup gold medal with the USA U-17 National Team in 2022. The McDonald’s All-American put up a 10-and-10 double-double in the gold medal game against Spain.

Although he couldn’t make a significant dent in the Duke frontcourt rotation, he has a chance to see a big uptick in minutes at Ohio State. Stewart can play as a power forward and as a center.

That versatility is music to the ears of the Buckeyes, who have been looking to add athletic frontcourt players to round out their roster ahead of the 2024-25 season.