Take Flight with D.J. Stephens

D.J. Stephens, Dalenta (duh-lon-tay) Jameral Stephens, is a dynamic appearance as he contests on the gym floor.  Stephens is a forward/guard out of Kileen, Texas and the proud son of Will Stephens and Dorothea Love. Stephens played his prep career at Harker Heights High School...recording 16.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.3 blocked shots and 2.1 steals.  He was named to the Texas 12-5A All-District first team.  Prior to his senior year, he was also selected as one of the 20 names to know for 2009 by the 'Killeen Daily Herald'.  During the summer, he played AAU basketball with D-1 Ambassadors.

 In the summer of 2009, Head coach Josh Pastner offered Stephens a scholarship for the University of Memphis' men's basketball team two weeks before class started.  He gratefully accepted the scholarship and declared his major in Sport and Leisure Management.  As an incoming freshman, Stephens competed in 33 of the Tigers 34 contests.  He made three starts averaging 1.8 points and 1.9 rebounds along with six assists, eight blocks and eight steals.  He shot 57.5 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three-point line and 58.3 percent from the charity stripe.   

Moving forth into his sophomore season (2010-11), he played in 32 of the Tigers’ 35 games averaging 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds…he had 14 assists, 26 blocked shots and 16 steals.  He became the team’s third-leading shot blocker as he shot 64.1 percent from the floor, 50 percent from the three-point arc and 55 percent from the free throw line.

In the 2011-2012 season, Stephens was only able to play in 28 of the Tigers' 35 contests as a result of tendonitis in his knees.  Within those 28 games, he was able to average 2.4 points, 1.8 boards, 21 blocked shots and eight steals...shooting 64.3 percent from the floor and 68.8 percent from the free throw line.

Then of course he had to take his senior year out with a bang!  The 6'5" and 188 lb forward/guard dominated 36 games...averaged 7.6 points and crashing the boards at 6.6 percent.  His defense was incredible as he shut down every opponent with 96 blocks along with 33 steals.  He shot 62.9 percent from the floor and 66.2 percent from the free throw line. 

But if you dont know this superman for anything else...you must know him for his incredible dunking capability.  The young man owns the rim!  It all began his junior year in high school...his teammates inspired him to dunk and after that first time, all he could do was dunk.  "Every time I got the opportunity, I tried to make sure I dunked it, and tried to make sure it was the best dunk anybody ever seen."  He has been labled as one of the five all time dunkers in Memphis program history accumlating a career high of 113 dunks.  He is so brilliant with the ball...you would think he invented the skill. 

In 2011-12 he won the Intersport Dunks of the Year title...nominated for the honor with his invigorating dunk in the first half vs. Xavier on February 4, 2012.  The fans have compared his talent to that of Lebron James and Blake Griffin, but much better.  Stephens states, "I'm loved by a city and I love it back. The light hasn't always been shined on me...for me to continue to work and for these great things to happen to me makes me happy and makes me thank God all in the same because I know without him alot of things that I have done wouldn't have been possible." 

He puts alot of passion in his game and you see it every time he hits the court. 

Stephens has played in a career-high of 93 games, making seven starts...Averaging 113 dunks, 39 rebounds, 21 assists, 55 blocked shots, 32 steals, and a total of 457 points which helped lead the team to three Conference USA Championship rings out of the 4 years he has been in Memphis.  He is a tremendous ambassador and represents Memphis at the very highest level.  He is a very humble, down to earth, and loving guy...he brings nothing but positivity into the atmosphere. 

And who have you ever known in this lifetime to kiss the rim of the goal?  Stephens is dynamic above the rim and the proof is here.

Tune into him live on youtube.  Just enter D.J. Stephens in the search bar and Wala Magic! Stay tune as he has more to prove to the world as he enters into the 2013 NBA draft!  He's not done yet...there is alot more to see! There are two words to describe him, "Humble and Hungry!"