Trey Stewart patiently awaited his breakout moment and deserves all the credit in the world

This article is all about Trey Stewart. Not so much about the BYU basketball program. I'm sorry, but Trey has spent too much time in the shadows of the BYU basketball program without an ounce of praise, so I'm not here to talk about how Kevin Young unlocked his ability or anything like that.

At the finale of his collegiate career, Trey Stewart deserves a moment to shine.

Stewart was a zero-star recruit out of local American Fork High School. As a recruit, Stewart didn't get much of a look from anyone outside of Utah Valley, Weber State, and of course BYU. A 6'2" combo guard with plenty of athleticism but lacking in scoring touch, Trey arrived on campus as a project player.

Truthfully, it takes a keen eye to say that project was a success. After serving a mission from 2019-2021 between Leeds, England, and Kennewick, Washington (where he was preaching and teaching according to this Instagram video), Trey returned to BYU to rehab and reintegrate into the rotation.

It was a very slow process. Imagine a snail on a skateboard -- with no wheels. Averaging 1.6 points, 1 rebound, and 0.8 assists for his career, Trey was designated to a role deep on the bench, only making appearances for highly specialized moments.

Under the stewardship of head coach Mark Pope, Stewart rode the pine. He didn't complain, though. He simply kept his head down and stuck to the work.

His absence of a role on his team weighed on the young guard, and while you wouldn't know it from his smiley exterior, the interior told a different story. Struggling with his mental health, Trey was fighting more than one battle on the basketball court.

"I've struggled with suicidal thoughts, depression," Trey shared with the media during this season's postseason run. "There were times when it got really hard. I'm not going to lie, it's just like I felt like nothing was going to turn around. But mainly God, my family, other hobbies outside of basketball -- like my art and all that stuff -- just kind of keeping my life as well-balanced as possible has helped me push through all the hard times."

His message to others who are struggling stopped me dead in my tracks, though.

"When you feel like there's no hope left, just keep going"

What better allegory for his basketball career at BYU than those words right there? For many following the BYU basketball program during Stewart's years of eligibility, even the keenest eyes would admit that his impact on the floor was a footnote at best -- a random piece of trivia.

So why is it that in critical moments of the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals, number one was not only seeing playing time against the 2-seed Alabama Crimson Tide, but trusted with a strong offensive assignment?

Well, Stewart's breakout season finally arrived under a new coaching staff -- as Mark Pope left for Kentucky -- but even that required a helping of patience for the senior guard.

That's not to say the seeds of a blossoming career weren't planted early for those paying close attention. In the preseason testing, Stewart broke what would have been an NBA combine record in the shuttle run, scorching the floor for a 9.8 second time. Absurd.

Of the record, I suggested the 2024-25 season could offer a platform for a breakout season. How little I knew what Trey would accomplish as a senior at BYU.

Starting the season much the same as he had before, Trey was designated to his familiar spot on the bench at the beginning of the season. Supporting and cheering for his squad, Trey was among the brightest faces when celebrating the Cougars' on-floor success.

Off the floor, Stewart was working. Hard work turned to impressive practices. Strong performances behind-the-scenes dug out some rotation minutes for the senior, and solid play on the court fed into a positive feedback loop that pushed Stewart into the game, even as Big 12 play began and the competition stiffened up.

"With Trey, honestly it just got to the point where what he was doing in practice just couldn't be overlooked," said Coach Young of Stewart's emergence into the rotation, citing his ability to come off the bench and becoming a defensive stopper with Mawot Mag as his most valuable addition to the team.

Even in the NCAA Tournament, the game's biggest stage, Stewart was a trusted leader for this BYU basketball team, both off and (finally) on the floor.

In statement victories over VCU and Wisconsin, Stewart was a vital defensive specialist on a team that lacked much defensive pressure at all. Trey took pride in his skill set, and was happy to battle with the best on the defensive end.

Stewart grabbed headlines with his emphatic slam dunk at the close of the win over Wisconsin, as he put an exclamation point on the biggest win in over a decade of BYU basketball. Roaring into the crowd in triumph meant much more to Trey than a win in March -- that was a release.

Trey Stewart's college career was trapped in a reserve role for three and a half years, but he kept working, he showed out in practice, he supported his teammates through it all, and when his moment finally arrived, he delivered at every level.

Even in an era of basketball where players can jump ship at the mere appearance of rough waters, Stewart stuck it out with the Cougars, opting to stick with the program even when transferring could have found him immediate playing time elsewhere. That decision doesn't receive nearly enough admiration.

For every basketball player who feels overlooked by coaches, for every hooper that spends too much time on the bench, and for every individual who feels their abilities are underappreciated and buried under a mountain of ignorance, Trey Stewart's story is for you. With enough patience and perseverance, your efforts can be applied to your benefit, whether in your anticipated field or not.

Here's to you, Trey Stewart. Thank you for your years at BYU. Your contribution will not be forgotten.

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