Temple's Steve Settle III averaged 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 31 games last season. (Photo: Temple Athletics/Robin Hsiao)
By AARON BRACY
October 29, 2024
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Player Spotlight: Steve Settle III
Class: Redshirt Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 192 pounds
Hometown: Glenarden, Maryland
2023-24 stats: 31 games/29 starts, 8.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .367 FG (91-248), .308 3PT (36-117), .633 FT (50-79), 50 steals, 30 blocks
Interests outside of basketball: Fashion, exploring Philadelphia, hanging out in Rittenhouse Square
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Steve Settle III loves exploring the city of Philadelphia. The Maryland native has started to find some spots that he really enjoys and is very comfortable spending an evening peacefully sitting on a park bench in Rittenhouse Square.
On the court, the 6-foot-10 forward also has found his comfort zone on the hardwood inside of the Liacouras Center on North Broad Street. Now in his sixth year of college after redshirting as a freshman at Howard University in 2019-20, Settle is poised to build on his strong finish to his first season at Temple in 2023-24.
“I’m in a really good spot right now,” Settle recently told Big5Hoops.com. “Being an older guy, I know how it goes and know the ropes a little bit.”
Making Adjustments
It took some adjustment for Settle after transferring from Howard following three very good seasons with the Bison that included helping them to the MEAC title and an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament in 2023. There, he scored 13 points and hit three three-pointers in a first-round loss to Kansas. But he started relatively slow with the Owls, and didn’t reach double-figures in any of his first four games last season.
“I spent a lot of time trying to prove myself to my teammates and coaching staff and just proving that I can play at this level,” he said. “That kind of took some of the focus away from producing on the court.”
A Breakout Performance
Settle broke out in a big way in the Owls’ historic, triple-overtime Big 5 win over La Salle at the Liacouras on November 29, 2023, when he had 19 points and 16 rebounds in 50 minutes. That included a game-tying 3-pointer late in the first overtime to keep the game going. Eventually, Temple pulled out a 106-99 victory that was the second-most combined points in a Big 5 game ever.
“Really tough, long-fought win,” Settle said. “You kind of have to grind it out.”
The victory launched Temple into the first-ever Big 5 Classic championship game, which they would lose to Saint Joseph’s at the Wells Fargo Center. Still, the entire Big 5 experience was rewarding for Settle.
“It was everything that I could ask for,” he said. “You really get to see what the Philly sports culture is about, how much they embrace their sports. It was just an overall great experience.”
Confidence Booster
He’s excited for another go-round in the Big 5 and, generally, for the entire season. Settle’s confidence got a boost in the American Athletic Conference tournament last March when the Owls made a surprising run to the conference final before losing to UAB. Settle was named to the AAC All-Tournament team for his five-game performance that included consecutive 14-point outings in a second-round win over SMU and quarterfinal victory over Charlotte.
“Our team made a good run, and I feel like I played really well in the tournament,” he said. “That just gave me confidence going into this year.”
Mr. Versatility
Settle did a little bit of everything for the Owls last season. He started 29 of 31 games and averaged 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds while leading the team with 30 blocks. He also contributed 50 steals and connected on 36 shots from beyond the arc. He added eight pounds of muscle this offseason and is looking to remain versatile but perhaps with more consistency.
“I’ve shown flashes, and now I’m putting everything together, offense, defense, blocks, steals, just making sure I’m playing a complete game every single game,” Settle said. “And just leaving it all on the floor every single night.”
As much as his production that shows up in the box score, and maybe more so, Settle wants to be known as a player who impacts winning by doing the little things that might not show up on a stat line. In this way, he models his game in the mold of Jaden McDaniels of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
“He plays great defense,” Settle said of McDaniels. “Just the way he can impact the game without the ball in his hands, I feel like it’s something I definitely want to emulate in my game. I just like guys that play defense and guys that do the little things for their teams to win. I take pride in defense, steals, blocks, and just impacting winning overall.”
Pride of DeMatha
Settle also takes pride in his leadership, something he says was shaped at famed DeMatha Catholic in Maryland, where he was teammates in the powerhouse basketball program with Markelle Fultz, Justin Moore, Hunter Dickinson, and Jahmir Young, among others.
“They produce greatness,” Settle said of DeMatha. “And not just sports, whether it’s arts, instruments. You’re surrounded by that all day. It’s really a brotherhood. Those four years at DeMatha are something I’ll always cherish. They have helped mold me into the man I am today.”
Settle’s leadership was felt at Temple quickly, and he was named a captain in his first season. He’s continued to build on his role this year, helping to welcome five transfers and three freshmen of a talented roster assembled by second-year head coach Adam Fisher and the Owls’ staff. Settle says the group has gelled well and quickly, on and off the court.
“We have a really talented roster, a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things on the court,” he said. “My favorite thing about this team is just how connected we are off the court. We do everything together and go everywhere together. I’ve been on teams like that, and those teams are always successful.”
Putting in the Work
Settle knows the Owls’ improved talent and team chemistry alone won’t be enough for a successful season. They need to do more, and Settle believes they are putting the work in that’s needed to form a winning program.
“The team works really hard, and we’re coachable,” he said. “We understand that we aren’t where we’re supposed to be yet, but we’re willing to put the work in to get there. You can expect a team that’s going to play really hard, a high-level team that’s going to have fun playing together. We’re going to play for each other. That’s a recipe for a special team.”
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.