Cougars Without Borders: BYU’s Defensive Duo Chase Overseas Glory
From the shadows of the Wasatch Mountains to the gleaming hardwood of Europe’s top leagues, BYU’s defensive juggernauts Trey Stewart and Mawot Mag are proving that Cougar pride knows no borders.
Forged in the crucible of college basketball’s most competitive arenas, Stewart and Mag were the unshakable backbone of BYU’s defensive identity. Stewart, a wiry, high-motor guard with a relentless on-ball presence, was often tasked with shutting down the opposing team’s top perimeter threat. His energy, instincts, and quick-twitch athleticism turned defense into an art form. Mag, a transfer from Rutgers who quickly became a fan favorite in Provo, brought toughness, length, and elite switchability to the frontcourt—an enforcer at the rim and a nightmare in passing lanes.
Now, the duo takes their talents beyond the borders of the United States, chasing professional glory in a new chapter of their basketball journey. Stewart has signed with a premier club in Spain’s Liga ACB, widely considered one of the best domestic leagues outside the NBA. Known for its tactical precision and physicality, the ACB offers Stewart the ideal platform to showcase his defensive mastery on a global stage.
Mag, meanwhile, heads to Turkey’s Basketbol Süper Ligi, a proving ground for rising international stars. The league’s blend of athleticism and European structure suits Mag’s versatile skill set. Coaches abroad are already raving about his ability to guard four positions, alter shots, and anchor defenses in critical moments.
For both players, the overseas leap is more than just a professional move—it’s a mission. Raised in the culture of accountability and brotherhood that defines BYU athletics, Stewart and Mag carry more than just stats on their resumes—they carry a legacy. They’re not just representing themselves or their teams; they’re ambassadors of BYU’s blue-collar ethos and defensive tenacity.
Their impact at BYU was often felt more than seen in box scores. They brought the intangibles—energy on dead balls, vocal leadership in huddles, game-saving deflections when the lights were brightest. Now, that same mindset is crossing oceans.
In the locker rooms of Valencia and Istanbul, two former Cougars will lace up their shoes with the same intensity they did in Provo. But the stakes have shifted. It’s now about adaptation, cultural growth, and proving that the grind and grit learned in college can translate to the pro ranks—no matter the country.
Trey Stewart and Mawot Mag are more than just players on foreign soil—they’re a testament to the evolving reach of BYU basketball. As the ball tips off in new time zones and the jerseys change color, one thing remains the same: defense travels, and Cougars never stop hunting.
Cougars without borders—still defending, still disrupting, still dreaming.
