Glue Guy: Southmoore's Camden Stewart does whatever is necessary to help his team
By Michael Kinney
If you ask Southmoore boys basketball coach Tim Stogsdill about Camden Stewart, the first words out of his mouth pretty much describe everything most coaches are looking for in a senior point guard.
“Cam Stewart's our glue guy,” Stogsdill said. “He doesn't get all the limelight, but he does all the little things for us.”
For Stewart, the term "glue guy" has almost the same exact meaning to him as it does for his coach.
“I feel like it means being a leader and bringing in the guys whenever we are down or like (huddling up) on free throws or anything like that,” Stewart said. “You know, talking on defense, getting rebounds, charges, blocking out, the little things so that the stars can get what they need.”
It’s that mentality that has helped Stewart guide the SaberCats through a rigorous schedule that saw them face six Top 20-ranked teams in their first eight games.
Southmoore went 5-3 in that stretch, with one of those losses by a point in overtime to Mustang. The SaberCats also lost to Midwest City Carl Albert (Class 5A) and Oklahoma City Millwood (3A), both at the time ranked No. 1 in its respective classes.
Stewart takes the court each night with more of an old-school point guard’s mindset. Instead of trying to go off for big numbers and showcase his own scoring talents, he wants to set up those around him first.
“Coming into this year, I saw myself doing what I'm doing now, feeding to Jesse Ledbetter and Ryan Guerrero so they can get their shots and we can win games,” Stewart said. “Not too much on myself, but more of winning games.”
Yet, Stewart also knew he had to become a more significant threat offensively if he was going to be on the floor in all situations.
Oklahoma's best high school boys basketball players: Meet the state's top post players
“My game has improved a lot, actually,” Stewart said. “I feel like I've had more confidence with the ball and moving without the ball, especially on defense, too; taking charges and stuff like that.
"I needed to improve upon my 3-point ability, catch and shoot, and taking people off the dribble.”
But it’s Stewart’s leadership that the Southmoore coaching staff seems to value the most.
“He's the energy guy in practice for us,” Stogsdill said. “He's constantly talking. He's encouraging in practice, but on the floor, he keeps all of us together because he'll do the little things like take charges, get on the floor after loose balls, help communicate, and things like that.
"I'm proud of him. He's come a long way.”
When Stogsdill says a long way, he means it. Stewart didn’t even make the junior varsity team his sophomore season.
For many young athletes these days, that would signal the end of their playing career and they would move on to something else.
Instead, Stewart kept working and started on the junior varsity squad as a junior, but still was at the end of the varsity bench.
It wasn’t until his senior campaign that Stewart finally achieved a starting spot with the varsity squad.
“I don't know why I didn’t quit. I think it was God himself, man,” Stewart said. “I don't know.
"But for me, I took it personally and I went and I worked and I got better and got in the gym. So, now I'm here where I'm at.”
Check It Out: Area assignments for 6A-5A basketball teams officially announced by the OSSAA
While Stewart would have loved to have been a three-year starter and received all the accolades that come with that accomplishment, he knows going through his own journey did more than just make him a better player.
“I think that made me want it more. I think that made me take it more personally and really pour my heart and soul into this game that I love, so I can be where I'm at right now,” Stewart said.
Even though the collegiate offers haven’t rolled in yet, Stewart said he plans to attend college next year with or without basketball.
Southmoore (9-7) is scheduled to return to the court on Friday with a game at Edmond Santa Fe.
