Matt Levins -The Hawk Eye / John Gaines Photography
The Notre Dame boys basketball team is off to a blazing start, taking a 4-0 record into Tuesday’s SEI Super Conference South Division game at Mediapolis.
One very big reason for the Nikes’ hot start has been junior Shay Stephens.
Stephens has grown into one of the top players in the area, averaging 17 points, 6.2 rebounds, six assists and 2.2 steals. He is shooting 57.1 percent from the field, 52.9 percent from 3-point range and 73.3 percent from the free-throw line. As the lone returning starter from last year’s 16-7 team, the 6-foot-4 Stephens is leading a young Nikes’ team early on.
hat is not surprising considering his lineage. His grandfather, Delbert Stepehns, was a well-known athlete in southeast Iowa. His parents, Corey and Meghan (Baker) Stephens, were standout athletes at Burlington High School and Notre Dame, respectively.
His oldest sister, Katy Stephens, is a heptathlete for the University of Northern Iowa women’s track and field team and his middle sister, Taryn Stephens, was an All-Region XI second team player in volleyball for Southeastern Community College.
Now, Shay Stephens is carving his own niche, adding to the family legacy in athletics.
The Hawk Eye recently had a chance to catch up to Stephens, the High School Athlete of the Week, to learn a little more about him.
What is your favorite sport besides basketball?
I would say my favorite sport besides basketball is pickleball. Basketball is my only organized sport that I play, but I enjoy going to play pickleball with my friends and family.
Something I learned from a coach that I will never forget is ...
Effort will get you far. Putting effort into whatever it is that you are doing will get you wherever it is that you want to go.
My favorite moment in basketball was ...
Competing and playing with my friends and teammates.
My most embarrassing moment in a basketball game was ...
When I got my first ever technical foul against Mediapolis last year.
My favorite team is the ...
Chicago Bulls. I have been to multiple Bulls games.
A role model that has had the most influence on me is ...
My older cousin, Brady Martin, who is currently on the SCC basketball team. The summer going into my second grade year I walked down to his house that is just down the street and I played basketball with him every day. That summer is really what made me fall in love with basketball.
Something on my bucket list is ...
To get to the state tournament this year.
If I had free concert tickets, I would see ...
Drake or Gunna. I think they are both great artists.
My favorite meal is ...
My dad’s spaghetti.
My favorite TV show is ...
The Outer Banks.
One movie I could watch over and over is …
“The Pursuit of Happiness”
If I won the lottery, my first purchase would be ...
A huge house with an indoor basketball court.
If I had free tickets to go to a pro sports event, it would it be…
NBA All-Star weekend.
In my free time I enjoy ...
Hanging out with my friends and playing basketball.
If I could have one super power it would it be ...
The ability to fly.
My favorite motivational slogan or quote is ...
“I’ve failed over and over again in my life, and that’s why I succeed” — Michael Jordan
In 25 years, I will be…
Doing something I love. Probably coaching a basketball team.
Something about myself that would surprise people is ...
I used to take dance classes when I was younger.