Earlier this week, Lafayette senior guard EJ Stephens entered the transfer portal. Stephens had a great 4 year career at Lafayette which was highlighted with a 16PPG, 5RPG stat line this season. His season high was a 31 point outburst in a win over Bucknell. Stephens will bring a lot of leadership to his next destination.
Stephens talked his recruitment and more with Hoop Scoop Media:
What programs have shown interest since you entered the portal?
“A lot of programs have shown interest since I entered the portal. Some of them include: Vanderbilt, Loyola Chicago, Murray State, Wake Forest, South Florida, Colorado State, Iowa State, UAB, FGCU, James Madison, South Dakota State, Charlotte, Stetson, and Drake.”
How would you describe your game as a player?
“I’d say I’m a 2-way combo guard that can score at all three levels. I play both ends of the floor, I can get to the cup, I have a good mid range game, and I can knock down the 3 ball.”
When do you want to make a decision?
“I don’t really have a timetable on my decision right now. I’m taking it day by day and weighing out my options to see what’s the best fit for me. I don’t want to wait too late, but I wouldn’t say I’m in a rush either.”
What led to your decision to enter the transfer portal?
“My current school, Lafayette College, doesn’t have a post graduate program. Therefore, I would not be able to obtain my masters degree here, That’s something that I definitely want to accomplish in my life and being able to do it for free id something that I can’t turn down. Then playing ball at a high level on top of getting my masters is something that I would love to do.”
What are the biggest things you look for when choosing a school?
“When choosing a school, I look to see if I can have an immediate impact and help the team. I don’t want to go anywhere to not play, I want to be on the court to help my team win. I also want to go somewhere that can make a tournament run. A team that plays at a high level and can get to the tournament is something I value.”
What would you bring to the program that lands you?
“To the school that gets me, you’re getting a guy that is hungry to win. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win. I’m a hard worker and I’m going to spend a lot of time in the gym to work on my game. On the court, you’ll get another ball handler with the ability to put the ball in the basket and someone who likes to play defense.”
Photo: Lafayette College Athletics