Lance Stephenson said he would consider joining the Army or playing in Europe instead of going to college after next season.

I spoke with both Lance and his father Lance Sr. this afternoon at the Steve Nash Nike Skills Academy here at Kean University and they confirmed that both were viable options.

“I think I want the education so I think I would go to college,” said Lance, one of the top players in the Class of 2009 and a rising senior at Brooklyn Lincoln High School. “I’m looking at Brandon (Jennings) right now, see how he’s doing. If he goes there (to Europe) then I’ll see how it is. If I do it, then I’ll do it, but right now I’m thinking about college.”

Jennings might play in Europe next season instead of going to Arizona because he is not yet qualified to play in college. Some have speculated that if Jennings follows that path, it could set a trend for players like Stephenson and Renardo Sidney to follow suit. (more…)

The first three picks in the 2008 NBA Draft, and five of the first seven, were college freshmen.

Derrick Rose went No. 1 to Chicago, Michael Beasley No. 2 to Miami and O.J. Mayo No. 3 to Minnesota.

Later, Mayo and fellow frosh Kevin Love were swapped in an eight-player deal with Mayo going to Memphis and Love to Minnesota.

All told, 12 frosh were chosen, including seven in the lottery, topping last year’s mark of 8. Six were picked in the ’01 Draft and three apiece in ’04 and ’00. (more…)

One of the best stories of the 2008 NBA Draft was West Virginia forward Joe Alexander, who went No. 8 to Milwaukee. The 6-8 Alexander spent six years of his childhood in Taiwan and China and speaks fluent Mandarin.  His father runs a non-profit that helps American businesses trade with China. Yet Alexander won’t get to speak Chinese with Yi Jianlin because the Bucks traded him to the Nets for Richard Jefferson.

Read my two stories that ran on the West Virginia Rivals site: “True to Form, Alexander Still Working Hard” and “Bucks Take Alexander With No. 8 Pick.”

Tough night for Danilo Gallinari and Donnie Walsh at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

No doubt recalling the ill-fated Frederic Weis pick at No. 15 in 1999, Gallinari was booed so loudly after the Knicks chose him at No. 6 in the NBA Draft that his interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was basically inaudible.

Some Knicks fans held up signs calling for the franchise to select West Virginia junior F Joe Alexander.  Still, former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy supported the pick, saying the 6-8 Gallinari will fit well into new coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. D’Antoni played with Gallinari’s father, Vittorio, in Italy.

“All of the playeres has got to hear this (booing),” Gallinari said. “Not every time you can hear good things.  So it’s nomal here. …It’s my work to prove to everybody that I am a good player.”

 The good news keeps on coming for Rutgers. The four-man recruiting class featuring McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario of St. Anthony was ranked No. 30 nationally by Rivals.com. I interviewed future Rutgers center Greg Echenique of St. Benedict’s Prep earlier this month before he left for his native Venezuela to play with his national U18 team in the upcoming FIBA Championships. You can read the full story here at Rivals High.

In other college notes…

**Keith Sargeant has the story on how former Rutgers radio announcer Bruce Johnson was replaced by Chris Carlin of WFAN, a blow to many RU fans.. (more…)

Pete Vasil has resigned as head coach of the Plainfield boys basketball team.

Vasil, 45, was told by Plainfield officials to re-interview for his job, which he did on Tuesday. He then stepped down after the meeting with the six-person panel, handing a letter of resignation to the new principal (Brian Bilal) and interim AD (Dan Cone). Vasil then handed other letters to the Board of Education and the interim Superintendent.

“I made up my mind with my wife last night to resign,” Vasil said by phone. “I’m not about that (politics) as far as the game of basketball goes. I’m a stand-up guy. I’ve never been about that. I thought it would be best to detach myself from the whole scenario for the best interests of my family.” (more…)

Brandon Jennings and those close to him are weighing the options as to whether he will play overseas or at Arizona next season.

The question is: If Jennings goes overseas, will it set a trend for others to follow? Could we see a Lance Stephenson or a Renardo Sidney follow Jennings abroad for a year before entering the NBA?

“I think it potentially could be exactly that, especially if it works out well,” said Jeff Valle, a Los Angeles-based attorney representing Jennings who has worked with Eric Clapton, Kevin Costner and Home Box Office. “And it may also cause the (NBA and NCAA) to look more carefully into their own situation (with the age limit). If the top players find it more attractive to not go to play college ball because they get paid right away and play in very competitive international leagues, I could imagine the NCAA saying, ‘We have to make sure we’re not losing our top players.’” (more…)

Tommie Patterson is on the move. Again.

Patterson, the former head boys basketball coach at Paterson Catholic and Paterson Eastside, is poised to accept the coaching vacancy at Clifton High School.

“I’m just excited to have the opportunity to be the head coach at Clifton,” said Patterson, who will remain a special education teacher at Eastside. “I’m glad that they’re giving me the opportunity.” (more…)

Fordham continues to pick up talented players from North Jersey.

Lance Brown, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound wing forward from Paterson Catholic, verbally committed to the Bronx school on Friday.

Brown, a second-team Herald News All-Area selection who helped lead PC to the Passaic County championship last February, becomes the second player with Paterson connections to commit to Fordham. Former St. Anthony point guard Jio Fontan, a Paterson native, will head to Fordham this year.

“The academic reputation (at Fordham) is real good,” Brown, who played at Fordham in last week’s Rumble in the Bronx, said Friday by phone. “It’s close to the Ivy league. Also a big part was Jio Fontan. He’s like family to me. He can help me out . Me and him have a good relationship. It’s also close to home. I get homesick and I know my family and my parents can come watch me play.

“I took three visits and I felt comfortable. I really like the coaching staff.”

Fordham assistant Jared Grasso has done a fabulous job recruiting North Jersey. He also landed St. Benedict’s big man Chris Gaston, who will join Brown in 2009. The Rams have two scholarships remaining for that year and are involved with O.D. Anosike, the younger brother of Tennessee women’s star Nicky Anosike, and Kyle Casey of Brimmer & May (Mass.).

Brown, a Teaneck native, averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game last season when the Cougars finished 23-5 and reached the Non-Public A semifinals, losing to Fontan and the Friars, who went on to win the Tournament of Champions.

When Paterson Catholic beat host Williamsport (Pa.) in a Christmas tournament, Brown scored a team-high 21 points and was named Tournament MVP.

Brown also had offers from George Mason, Robert Morris and Quinnipiac.

“He liked (Fordham),” PC coach Damon Wright said. “They’ve been recruiting him all year and they finally offered him a scholarship. He liked what they had to say and he likes Jio. He’s excited about it.”

Said Brown:  “I definitely wanted to commit before my senior year. I’m really happy I made my decision. I’m really happy it’s over with.”

SOPHOMORES HAVE INTEREST
Wright said 6-5 sophomore Fuquan Edwin, a third-team All-Area selection, also has interest from Kansas, Marquette and Florida in addition to offers from Xavier, Rutgers and Seton Hall….6-6 sophomore Trevor Clemmings has interest from Miami and St. John’s on top of offers from Xavier and the Jersey schools….6-3 sophomore Shaq Thomas, the nephew of Clippers star Tim Thomas, has major interest from Kansas and Syracuse. “I had Kansas call outright on him,” Wright said. “They said, ‘We’re going to follow him and we’re interested in him.’”