DJ Campbell has been on quite the journey to get here. The senior forward became Stockton University’s all-time leading scorer Wednesday night against Kean.

“It means a lot,” Campbell said. “I’ve been working on it really hard since my sophomore year in high school. It’s been a crazy journey knowing that basketball wasn’t really my first sport, and then to see the success that came along with the journey is more like shocking to me.”

The previous record belonged to Carl Cochran, who recorded 2,124 points from 1993-1997.

Campbell was born in Jamaica and before coming to the United States, he played soccer. When he moved to Vineland, he got into basketball. He burst onto the scene in the 2019-2020 season, winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. Since then, he has countless accolades, including being selected to the NJAC First Team each season and being the NJAC Player of the Year in 2021-2022.

Including the shortened COVID season, this marks Campbell’s fifth year playing at Stockton. Over the years he has never lost sight of the big picture.

“My coach [Scott Bittner] always harped to me that if you work hard at something, it will eventually turn out as a good thing,” Campbell said. “I was relieved that if I just enjoy the game and not really put too much pressure on myself and worry about anything, just play the game the right way and enjoy it, then a lot of good stuff will happen. I didn’t think this would happen, but I believe good things come when you work hard.”

Now at 2,134 points and counting, Campbell is grateful for the opportunity given to him by coach Bittner and longtime assistant coach Bob Hutchings.

“They gave me the opportunity that I thought I would never have in a lifetime,” Campbell said. “To be able to go to college and play basketball, I feel like giving me the opportunity was all I needed. And my teammates along the way, they seen the potential that I had.”

All that is left for Campbell and the rest of the Ospreys is the NJAC tournament. Stockton enters the tournament at 16-9 and will host Montclair State University in the first round. Pushing the pace is the only way forward for Campbell.

“Just continue to get better,” Campbell said. “You never know what could happen. Every day I show up, I try to get better. Try to do things the right way and let everything else take care of itself.”