Isaiah Stewart to Washington, plans to recruit Jaden McDaniels

By ADAM ZAGORIA

The Isaiah Stewart Sweepstakes has come to a close.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pound five-star big man from La Lumiere (IN) and the Albany City Rocks announced for Washington on Sunday night on ESPN.

“Next year I will be attending the University of Washington,” the Rochester, N.Y., native said on ESPN.

Ranked the 5 prospect in the 2019 ESPN 100, Stewart chose the Huskies over blue bloods Duke, Michigan State, Syracuse and Kentucky. He is the projected No. 6 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, per ESPN.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins established a bond with Stewart during his time at Syracuse.

“Me and Coach Hopkins go way back and I’m a big relationship guy and relationships played a major role in my recruitment,” Stewart said. “He’s a coach that I trust to push me harder and help me accomplish my goals, and I’m looking forward to going there, winning games, soaking up things and just working my hardest.”

Stewart said he liked that Hopkins left Syracuse to forge his own path at Washington.

“Coach Mike Hopkins chose to go out West and start his own legacy, and that’s the type of player I am,” he said. “I’m a different type of player. I take my own path and prove people wrong.”