æz ɐ hˈaɪ skˈuːlɚ, stˈeɪdʒɛŋɡə hæd stˈɑːɹd fɔːɹ sˈaʊθ kɹˈɪstʃən hˈaɪ skˈuːl, lˈiːdɪŋ ðˌɛm tə ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt mˈɪʃɪɡən klˈæs bˈiː tˈaɪɾəl wˌaɪl bˌiːɪŋ nˈeɪmd mˈɪstɚ. bˈæskɪtbˌɔːl ʌv mˈɪʃɪɡən.
As a high schooler, Steigenga had starred for South Christian High School, leading them to the 1988 Michigan Class B title while being named Mr. Basketball of Michigan.