Warrior Insider

The player on the University of Hawai’i basketball team known as B$tep is looking to step up on the court and on the charts this season.

Brocke Stepteau, a 5-foot-9 guard from Dallas, is in a unique spot on a unique roster that features 10 newcomers and four healthy returnees. As a third-year sophomore, Stepteau is suddenly one of the veteran players on the team. But following a redshirt season in 2014-15, then limited minutes last season, he understands that he still has room for improvement.

“As one of the returners, I’m trying to lead as much as I can with the things I already know from being with these coaches from last year,” he said. “Still learning things as well. I’m not a master of the system yet, but leading anyway I can and making sure we’re where we need to be.”

Fitting for a new-look team, Stepteau will have a new look on the back of his jersey. He is now wearing No. 2, after having No. 21 the past two seasons. He said he made the change in honor of his favorite player, Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I don’t necessarily play like him, I don’t think, but maybe just good luck, good vibes,” he said.

Off the court, Stepteau has already proved to be a valuable teammate, thanks in part to having his own car.

“Any time the team’s going anywhere, I got at least four guys in the car with me,” he said. “We try to do as much as we can. It started during the summer … groups of guys are always together, whether we live on campus or not. We’re always around each other – that’s how you build chemistry.”

Stepteau has also found the time to embark on a rap-music career. He started loading some of his songs on the Internet earlier this year, and has created a following.

“That first song I did, it’s got like 50,000 views on Soundcloud now,” he said. “I didn’t expect people to like it like that, but it’s something I’m getting better at each day. I do it anytime I have free time.”

Samples of Stepteau’s music can be found at: https://soundcloud.com/brockestepteau