The Student Athlete Sessions
D3Direct shares the stories of NCAA Division 3 student-athletes, and explores their journeys from Recruit to the Real World.
The Student Athlete Sessions
#55: D.J. Campbell - Stockton's All-Time Leading Scorer Goes Pro
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Stockton University's all-time leading scorer didn't pick up a basketball until he moved to the U.S. from Jamaica. Now, starting his second year playing professional basketball overseas, D.J. Campbell shares his recruiting story, his rocky freshman year, and the networking playbook that got him his first pro contract.
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Welcome back to another episode of the student athlete sessions. Today, we're joined by Stockton all-time leading scorer DJ Campbell. DJ is currently a pro. We're going to get into his pro journey. Stockton University class of 2024. Great story on how he really became the star of this program and just developed into a great basketball player. DJ, welcome to the program.
SPEAKER_00Thank you guys for having me. I mean, I'm really excited for this. You know, let's get it started.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. We always like to start out by just asking where where are you right now? What's going on for you? You know, we mentioned you're a current uh professional basketball player overseas, but where are you in that process of maybe your season?
SPEAKER_00Okay, so right now I'm currently a free agent. I'm in talks with some teams right now, you know, just trying to get ready for next season. Um been speaking to like three, four different coaches. I talked to coach from uh Poland, coach from Croatia, um Serbia, and then I spoke to a few G-League teams. So, you know, kind of all over right now, but I probably know what I'm doing in the next three, four days.
SPEAKER_01So that's great. And you got an agent that's helping you out with all that, correct?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01How did you go about finding that agent out of undergrad?
SPEAKER_00So it's my story is typical different because coming out of college, I didn't typically have an agent. So um I went to like this tour in South Africa and kind of just network, and I had a bunch of teammates that was already pros on that team, and you know, they helped me connect it with the agent. So I didn't typically go out and find an agent. I reached out to some few teammates, and the teammates helped me, and then they connected me with the agent, which is you know, for life agency, and then you know, within a month or so, they got me a job in Albania. So I'm really grateful for that.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. Yeah, and I feel like uh Albania maybe is something that's unknown to a lot of people. I I think I read that when you got that text, you had to go look it up on a map.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, so that's the first thing I did. I went to the maps, and I'm like, wait, where's Albania? I've never heard of this country, but it ended up being a really, really cool experience.
SPEAKER_01So, yeah, I I did the same thing when I I found it, and correct me on the on the pronunciation, but it's F-I-E-R, it's fear or fire, fear, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Fear, yep, yep.
SPEAKER_01And uh, if anyone is is unclear, I can sh I can share it real quick just so the people watching this on video can can see uh exactly where this is, but pretty incredible location. You got uh Greece right here, Corfu, the coast of Italy, and you're on the Adriatic. So was it a nice uh you know place to live for the for the first pro season?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean the the city the city wasn't much to do in the city, so but the whole entire country, it was beautiful, like the beaches was like amazing. So it was really is a really cool experience. I'll you know recommend people to go there on vacation, definitely.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, interesting. Yeah, very fun. I'm sure eye-opening. Uh, you know, you you already you know had this very international story in a way. You grew up in Jamaica, moved to the US when you were nine years old, and so maybe adjusting to a different country is is easier for you, or or is it still was there still some challenges there?
SPEAKER_00It was it was easier because I already been through the transition transition of it. So it was just kind of the basketball, and then you know, basketball is the same language wherever you go if you know how to play the game. So it was kind of a smooth transition for me. I would say my year one.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Your story from coming from Jamaica is is pretty uh awesome. I think you know, I think people can look at your career at Stockton and say, okay, wow, all-time leading scorer, you know, now current pro, and say this guy must have been in love with basketball for his whole life, but the reality is very different. You didn't even start playing until you got to the States. Um what is your, you know, how would you describe your relationship with the game and and and how far it's come?
SPEAKER_00Man, people would tell you I love basketball. I eat, sleep, dream basketball all day. Like I do about three, sometimes four workouts a day. When I was at Stockton, Coach Bittner would have to tell me, like, get out the gym, you know, don't burn yourself out. Like, I'm like really, really obsessed with the game. But basketball to me is fun. Like the success, the the failures, all of it. I love the good just like I love the bad. So to me, basketball has given me what I thought. I'm really grateful to be able to play the game. So yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. How about with your journey to find Stockton? I know uh I was reading some some other NJAC schools had interest in you. You grew up in in Vineland, New Jersey. Um what did your recruiting process look like? Um and when did you kind of start getting traction with coaches?
SPEAKER_00So, like I said, I plan in maybe my junior year. Going into my junior year, I honestly took it. So for me, I love basketball so much that my freshman and sophomore year, I was not doing any homework. I was in the gym at night, like missing projects and stuff like that, just because I was in the gym. And then a coach had to pull me to the side and like, hey, like, if you love, we know you love the game, but if you want to really take this serious, you're gonna have to get your education right. So junior year, I started playing, you know, I scored over 700 points. I was a you know top scorer in South Jersey, but no coach reached out to me, you know what I'm saying? So senior year came, or that following junior season, going into senior year, I had AAU. And I only played one season of AAU. So Montclair and Rowan reached out to me, but they wasn't like heavily aggressive at Stockton because Stockton is 40 minutes away from violin. Uh Montclair is maybe like an hour and change, and then Rowan's like, you know, Rowan came to one of my games, but Stockton was at every single game towards the end of my senior year, and that was the only team that recruited me. Only coaches that came to me was calling me every day. Um, you know, rest in peace, Coach Hutch, he was calling my phone every day, picking me up, bringing me to the school. And then once I went on a visit, the whole community was just gravitated towards me, like the from the lunch lady to the administrative to the EOF program. So I was like, yeah, this is where I belong. And you know, the rest was history.
SPEAKER_01Right. So yeah, I think for any kids listening to this and DJ, I mean, feel free to chime in, but it sounds like the lesson here is go where you're wanted because the the interest was for sure, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, a lot of kids today they they you know they see other people's path and they want to go there. And it's like, no, if a coach is if a coach wants you, they're gonna find you. You know what I'm saying? So that's what I took in my recruitment process. If a coach really, really wants you, no matter where you're at, they're gonna come find you, they're gonna come get you, they're gonna do everything to pitch to you that they want you. So, you know, my recruitment process was just, you know, I wanted to go where I felt loved and where I was gonna be pushed as a basketball player, and you know, just not get anything handed to me. And that's what the Stockton program did for me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and you had it, you had a uh, you know, a strong start to your career. You you come out of high school, yeah, you score 1,500 points in high school, uh, a 50-point outburst. I'm gonna have to see this video at some point. Uh so you are the doctor knows you are a prolific scorer, but you only start two games. Was that kind of you know an adjustment for you, or was it was it good for you to go in slow to the to your career?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was a good challenge. I remember my very first workout, Coach Bittner was just sitting there on the bleachers just watching, and I shot the ball terrible. And he came to me, he's like, you know, he probably doesn't even remember that. He's gonna laugh when he sees it. But he's like, you know, good thing you're gonna be playing defense and you know, getting rebounds here. And I stayed in the gym from like six o'clock to like 12 that night and just shot on a gun and just shot on the gun. And then that season we had a really good team. So, you know, I finished most of our games. I didn't start, but I probably let us in, I was probably top three in minutes, so it didn't really matter for me. I was just trying to make an impact, you know, as a freshman coming in, playing defense and hey, open shots. That was my mentality.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I mean, what advice then would you say to to kids who who maybe are the guy or or you know the top player and and just in high school, but then get to that college level and have to have to settle into a role? Like you're saying, you still you still contribute, you play 21 minutes a game, but but like what advice would you give to a kid that that is taking that same step?
SPEAKER_00Um advice is just be willing to learn and adjust because you know it's a different game, the game is way faster, guys are stronger. You got to you know talk to your seniors and you know, ask a lot of questions, and you know, details is everything as a freshman because I think most freshmen struggle playing defense because the details part of the defense, like whether it's ball screen or help side, or you know, just knowing different coverages quick. Like in high school, you don't really play much defense. You know, I hate to say, but nobody plays defense in high school. If you got one guy that's an athletic on your team, okay, that's cool. But in college, everyone has to be on a string. So I would say for a guy that's coming in, that's the main guy on your high school team going into a program, you have got to ask questions and pay attention to details, you know. So that's what I did. I studied the game, I studied our playbooks, um, I asked a lot of questions, you know, just to try to understand the basketball, uh, the game of basketball.
SPEAKER_01Right. Right. Yeah, it is it is uh it's much more academic and yeah, and and and play like the plays are not just on offense. You are really truly like you said, you have to be on a string for defense, and and I think that goes really for all team sports at the college level. There's a lot more scheming, film, film sessions, like you don't go into a game kind of wondering what a team will do. You you know exactly what plays they're gonna run, right? And then you're trying to blow it up on defense.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and yeah, that's how my high school was. Like, we kind of just went out there and just, you know. So my first time really getting coached was like in college, and even like, you know, I tell people the story all the time. My very first practice, I got thrown out of practice. Coach kicked me out because I wasn't running hard. I thought I was running hard. He was like, you know, you haven't been you're working hard all day. My working hard, I'm thinking like I'm the first guy in the gym, second guy, but I was the last guy in the sprints. And he knows he threw me out. He said, You haven't been doing anything all day, you haven't been running hard. Threw me out. Then the assistant coach pulled me to the side, said, Hey man, you have a lot of potential. Like, you know, listen to coach. We came back, regrouped, and we ended up going to the championship that year. So it was a you know, I had a lot of bumps and bruises. Everyone see the points and the rookie of the year that year, but I had a lot of um hiccups that year, you know, loan uh learning and growing from the game.
SPEAKER_01What did you do?
SPEAKER_00And coach pushing me every single day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, what did that moment do for you?
SPEAKER_00Man, it could have made or break it made me, but it could have also broken me because I called my dad. I said, Hey dad, I don't want to play basketball no more. But my dad's more in the education aspect, so he's not gonna baby me and be like, oh, you know, da-da-da-da. It's like more like, okay, well, it's time to focus on education. But the assistant coach, Coach Andy, pulled me to the side and like and my seniors pulled me to the side and said, Hey man, you got a lot of potential. Like, listen to coach. And you know, I took that in consideration. Coach told me to go back to my dorm, come back tomorrow, regroup, and you know, the rest of literally history. Like after that, it was just I never had one of those moments where I wasn't working hard and I got thrown out of practice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. And I think it's important. I mean, you got to see what the level is. Like you were saying, it's such an adjustment. The expectations are different. You can't just be the best player. You really have to be a student of the game, you have to, you know, come in it and and be willing to work. And so, yeah, I mean, I think it's a great testament to to your spirit that it didn't break you. And then also, I love the I love the contribution from your dad saying, hey, figure it out. And also, basketball isn't number one.
SPEAKER_00Get get your degree. Yeah, so that was that that was pretty, you know, that was pretty cool. My dad, like, you know, because a lot of parents will like blame the coach, be like, oh, it's the coach's fault, stuff like that. My dad kind of just held me accountable. Well, what did you do? Kind of broke it down to him, and he's like, Well, you know, you have a decision you want to make. So, you know, but I think a lot of high schoolers, including me, at the time, coming in feeling entitled. And, you know, that's the biggest thing for kids. Like, they're so like babied in high school and then coming to college. Like, everybody's working for something, even the last guy on the bench, they're working to get a starting spot. And if you're, you know, not going hard in practice, you might lose that spot. So right. I'm glad I ended up, you know, getting my act together. And you know, shout out to the coaches and my seniors that year for pushing me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, I think in the transfer portal era too, it's it's very common for someone. I mean, your your story of of encountering some bumps freshman year is is very common. And it's it often the response is this isn't right for me. I need to leave. And and I think when you do double down and you invest in that place, you invest in Stockton, you know, you talked about the love you received coming in. I think once you made that choice, it it becomes it feels very obvious, like in the way that the school now writes about you, and um and you know, and the career you ended up having. I mean, the the list of accolades is is super long. Again, we've already mentioned your all-time leading scorer, and um, but it really does feel like a place that that not only you ended up coming to love, but they and the whole university community loved you back.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Stockton. I mean, I still go to Stockton almost every day to work out, you know. So that's a place that has a special, you know, place in my heart because you know, they did right by me, they helped me, they supported me. I came in as an 18-year-old, not knowing what to expect, you know, and you know, I left. They got like a picture of me like outside. So it was, you know, it's pretty cool that the love that they showed. And I was glad I was able to do my part, you know, to bring in some bringing the championship. You know, we went to the Sweet 16 twice, back to back. We was in the tournament every year. So, you know, it was pretty, pretty special place for me, I'll say.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Talk about that championship run a little bit because that was something new for for Stockton.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man. That was that was a special year for us. Like, really good group. Every day we got after it. Um, you know, that was also the year I won't play the year. That was the year I figured out, like, okay, like basketball, I can like take this to pro. Like, because I worked so hard that summer. I did three workouts. That's when I started doing three workouts a day. Like, because the feeling of the COVID year, we lost in the um, we lost in a buzzer beater to Jersey City. And I said, I do not want to experience this feeling again. So I started working out like three times a day. Then I came in in the September. I had guys in the gym with me. We was working out, you know, doing lifting, then we playing pickup after. And, you know, it was just a really, really good season. Something I'll never forget. You know, me and the guys were still cool. We still talk every day, you know, here and there. So it's pretty, it's pretty pretty special group and pretty special year for us. Hopefully, they put that team in the hall of fame one day.
SPEAKER_01So I I would imagine they would.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's pretty special group. I have fun that year.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, no, and and I know you you mentioned your coach passing away. I mean, what what is that? Um obviously you're still very connected to the program, but how has it been, you know, with your team and and and mourning his loss, you know, or his perhaps his memory?
SPEAKER_00Uh for me, Coach Hush was special because, like I said, he was the guy that was there every single day, you know, recruiting me and he brought me a lot um a lot of guys in. So we all had a special connection with Coach Hutch in our own way. Um, he was a guy that kind of kept everything together. You know, when emotions are high, he's a guy like saying it'll calm down. I remember um going into that championship year we won. I had a buzzer beater, and everyone is like, Yeah, jumping around, and he's just like this. Just so that's all you need to know about Coach Hutch. And you know, when he was gone, like it just ripped us apart that season. And you know, it's every day, like you just, you know, just not seeing him on the sidelines, it was tough for us.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And Coach Bitter, you know, very fond of you as well. I I have a great quote here. He summed up you uh as a uh and and getting to coach you, he said, I will be very lucky if I ever have the opportunity to coach another kid like DJ ever again. Um so again, just don't want to understate the the connection you have with Stockton. I think this is just one of those parts about the D3 experience that's so special. Um small communities and but very dedicated and very loyal to the people that come through and stay for four years uh and very supportive. So I love love to hear that type of a quote, and and clearly it has served you well in your in your uh budding pro career now, too.
SPEAKER_00Yep. Nah, Coach Bittner definitely, definitely helped me, you know, prepare for because he was a tough coach, you know, like he'll push you every day. Like you that's a coach that's not gonna allow you to just come in and just cheat the game or cheat yourself. Like if he sees that you have potential or even just like just coming in every day, he's gonna push you to work hard, and that's what I respect about him because that's what I hold myself to standard, not cheating the game, not cheating the process, just coming every day and just ready to work. So, you know, that's why you know I got a lot of respect for Coach Bit because you know what he stands for.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. Let's shift gears a little. Let's go to your pro career. Um and we already talked somewhat about your agent situation, but I I wanna maybe just if you could give some advice based on what you have done. I think in order to get your first pro opportunity, you you went on the South Africa trip, like we already talked about, you played in TBT. Yes, and then you also how did you get this workout with the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers uh G-League affiliate?
SPEAKER_00Um, I just went out there. It was a um a link, you know. I wanted to give my see myself against other guys, and I just went out there and you know showcased my talent. I ended up being a top 15 guy, um, left out of like, you know, however many, like 100 or something guys at the camp. And you know, I was a top 15 guy, and my team ended up winning the end, but I didn't receive any call after. So kind of just kept my head, didn't get discouraged, kind of just kept on working, working. Then um my guy Jordan, Jordan reached out to me. I didn't know who he was, reached out to me my DM, and he's like, hey, I got an opportunity, you know, to go to South Africa. So I was like, okay, you know, kept an eye on it, just kept on working every day, working every day, not knowing if this was gonna ever pay off. And he had something for me in May in 2024. Yeah, 2024 or something. And we went out there or 2025, worked, you know, went out there, I had 30 points against the BAL team. So BAL is attached to the NBA, and I had 30 points played really good, and then an agent from one of my players seen me playing through his player, and he reached out to me, and then I connected with him, and then that's how everything started. So yeah, it started through Rise and Grind. Rise and Grind, you know, did a lot for me, and I appreciate them. Yeah, Rise and Grind TBT team, right?
SPEAKER_01Right. Yeah, who who are no longer a team just like the We R D3 team is.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man. I'm I'm so upset. And then even that, like I was hurt in you know, going into the TBT game because I had sprained my thumb, but we scrimmaged against we are D3 team, and we knew they were gonna go far because they had Ty Nichols that went to Keen State. Um, I just played with a guy named Demetrius uh in Texas. He's also a D3 kid. Yeah, underwood, he's I just played with him, he's tough. Um, they had Azore Azore, not sure Marcus Azore, yeah. Mark Yes, so they had a lot of guys on that team. I wish I was being able to part of it, but I was also a fan watching because I also scrimmage against them. So I was you know, as a D3 guy, I was rooting for them.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, yeah, that's special. I mean, I think that what I'm hearing you say is there's so many benefits from from not only just a willingness to put yourself out there, you know, try and potentially fail. There's a lot of room for failure in all these endeavors that you're taking. And and I think like relying on your network, trusting your friends, hearing what they're doing, talking to other people. Like, there are so many takeaways for anyone who wants to go pro there, but also for recruits who are just you know trying to figure out the college process. Like, talk to your friends, see see what other people are doing, what's worked for them. And and I think also, you know, again, don't be afraid of failure.
SPEAKER_00Right, you definitely got a network like me. I try to bank. On my college career, and that was not enough because once you're done college and trying to enter the pros, everyone is that guy at their college. So that stuff doesn't even matter. It's about networking, you know, getting to meet people, talk, playing, going to showcases, um, and then just talking to peers, like talking to other guys as professionals, and you know, just see what's out there for you. Because everybody's path is different. And it's the same thing with you know, going into college. Like, just because your friend might be going to division two, that doesn't mean you're gonna be a division two player. Just be, you know what I'm saying? Just gotta find your own path, network, talk to people, and just you know, ask questions.
SPEAKER_01Maybe for for recruits some advice, how do you find out what level you are? Like, what is it that shows you the level that you should be playing in college?
SPEAKER_00The guy in the mirror. The guy in the mirror. You gotta look yourself and be, you know, reasonable and hold yourself accountable. Like, you know, and then also if you're in the gym that you're the best player, maybe you should not be in the gym. I seen Cooper Flag put that quote out. Like, you gotta go out and play against other high-level guys, other, you know, college guys to see where you're at. If you're just playing against the same guys every single day and you're, you know, you're the best guy in the gym, then you won't really know. So you gotta, for me, I went out and put against I came to college and I scrimmaged against the the current players at Stockton. And I'm like, man, guys headed are touching the backboard. So I'm like, this is division three. And you know, obviously for me, I started a little later, so I'm like, this is a level for me for development, and you know, I was just kind of like real with myself, like, you know, division three is still good basketball. Any level is still good basketball, in my opinion. The separated between division three and division one, maybe it's the the big men, like they're seven foot versus you know what I'm saying? That's the difference. But if you work, then all you guys will be in the same spot eventually. Like, I had five division one players on my Albania team. I was the only D3 kid. So that's it always ends up, yeah. It always ends up, you know, working out.
SPEAKER_01What about what about athletic scholarships? Were you concerned, you know, with like cost of college and trying to figure all that out without you know not having an athletic scholarship but being a division one or division two player? Like, was that a was that something you heard growing up?
SPEAKER_00Um, for me growing up, no, because in my household it was just strictly education. It wasn't really more about getting a division one scholarship. It was kind of just my family kind of made it super easy for me to just, you know, whatever path I wanted to take, as long as education is the top of it, I'm fine. So I had to balance, you know, just education and basketball. And when I went to Stockton, I wasn't so much worried about getting a scholarship because, like I said, my path is different than everyone else. Some guys might have been playing since they were six years old, went through the AU system, went through recruitering power. I didn't go through any of that. It's kind of just I picked up basketball um in gym class and I loved it. I wanted to pursue it, and then it ended up being what it is. So yeah, it wasn't much to it for me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's interesting.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Well, I mean, what about next steps for your pro career? I know you said you're you maybe you're days away from from an announcement or or signing a new deal, but where do you want to go with your career and what are you striving for there?
SPEAKER_00My goal is to play in the highest level of you know my pro career, whether it's the Euro Cup, Euro League, possibly G League, maybe the NBA is just you know, every day I just work to get to that step. I kind of not try to look that far, just like I've been doing since I picked up a ball, just work every day, just try to get better every day, and then just you know, see where the process takes me in the long run. So my goal is to get to the highest level wherever that is, and just try to maximize everything out of basketball.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. How about this then? To uh as we as we move to wrap up the pod here, what advice if you could go back and talk to your 18-year-old self, what advice would you give 18-year-old DJ?
SPEAKER_00What advice? Um I would say just like take everything day by day. Day by day, you might not see the results now, but years later, you know, you'll see it, or months or whatever. Just take everything day by day. I think when I was younger coming up in basketball, I was like, why is this guy here and I'm not here or why? You know what I'm saying? It's kind of just focus on your own path and taking it day by day and see where the results take you later on. So I kind of like developed that later, like mid-career college, just taking the process day by day instead of trying to figure out everything that's gonna happen later on, years down the line. So that's what I'll give my advice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, bit bit by bit. Great, great advice for recruits, great advice for just life in general, man. Don't get too wrapped up in the in the long term, control what you can control in the in that day. And yes, sir, and things work out usually, especially if you're working out three to four times a day.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, just you know, just take everything day by day. That's what I've learned, that's what worked for me. So I'm gonna stick with it. And you know, if that's what I have any advice from uh any guys that's coming up in the basketball world, just take everything day by day because you know you might not see the results today, but a year from now, if you keep working at it, you'll eventually see the work. So day by day. That's my motto.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01Well, DJ, appreciate you coming on today and sitting down with us, especially, I'm sure, during a busy summer and getting getting ready for the next step of your pro career. So thank you.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. This has been another episode of Student Athlete Sessions. You can always get previous episodes on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast, and let us know what uh student athlete you want us to talk to next. Uh, today again has been DJ Campbell, Stockton University basketball's all time leading scorer and uh current pro overseas. DJ, thanks again and talk soon.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. Thank you, my guy. Appreciate it.