After all this time, it appears that Arizona or Memphis has as good a shot to land Lance Stephenson as anyone.
Stephenson, the McDonald’s All-American out of Brooklyn Lincoln, has reportedly crossed both St. John’s and Maryland off his list of potential colleges, which makes sense because if he hasn’t committed to either by now, what is he waiting for?
“At this point [St. John's is] out,” a source told the Daily News. “They’re not a high priority for us. Maryland coach [Gary Williams] embraced Lance, but for some reason that wasn’t the right move.”
A St. John’s source said the Stephenson family had not called them as of noon on Friday to dispute the accuracy of the report.
Both Lance Stephenson Jr and Sr. have repeatedly said they wanted to get the young man out of New York and into a different environment.
St. John’s recently got a commitment from point guard Malik Stith, and head coach Norm Roberts is also waiting on several other players. By waiting on Stephenson, it could hinder his chances to land those players.
“[Stith] is going to be a guy that’s really going to be able to help us from the point guard position because we were depleted at that position a year ago,” Roberts said.
He added: “I like my team right now.”
As for Maryland, sources say that Stephenson feels Williams’ system would be too structured for him. There is also the concern of a potential NCAA investigation into Stephenson’s visit to the Under Armour facilities during his official visit in January. Under Armour is owned and operated by Kevin Plank, a Maryland booster.
“It was just an honest part of the trip,” Lance Sr. told SLAM Magazine in its June issue. “They gave us a tour and basically that was it. They showed us how they make sneakers, we met with the academic people, the coaches…we just saw the itinerary. If it was a violation, we didn’t know anything about it.”
Stephenson has never visited Arizona or Memphis but Arizona has been in touch with the family, and Memphis has also reached out, as first reported here.
Arizona assistant Book Richardson coached Stephenson on a USA Basketball team in 2007 that won the gold medal and he is trying to cultivate that relationship.
Richardson is also recruiting another New York native, Kevin Parrom, who takes his official visit to Arizona this weekend and will decide by next week.
No official visits for Stephenson have been set to either Arizona or Memphis, but a source said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he verballed without stepping foot on campus.”
Despite the Daily News report that Kentucky was in the mix, a source within the Kentucky program said they were not recruiting Stephenson and that landing a point guard – John Wall or Eric Bledsoe – was the “top priority.”
The late signing period ends May 20, but there is nothing preventing Stephenson from announcing after that date.
“[Lance Sr.] said he’s not even close to making a decision,” a source said.
The Daily News also reports that Stephenson is due to appear in Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn May 19. A 17-year-old girl at Lincoln High School claims Stephenson groped her on Oct. 3 of last year. Alberto Ebanks, Stephenson’s attorney, maintains his client’s innocence.
Guys I am a Memphis fan to start. If Lance wants to win next year and go to an elite eight or better he will be at Memphis and Not Arizona. Our roster as of right now is good but needs depth.
Bledsoe I believe will choose Memphis – I would say 75% chance
Latavious Williams will choose Memphis – I would say 90% chance
Lance I have no idea but I wouldn’t be surprised
The tigers will be better than last year for a few reasons. At small forward or SG whatever you want to call Anderson we will add more height and more offense. The Ky fans will find out that Cal is a great promoter of his favorites. No offense to Anderson but he wasn’t even our best defender on the team last year at that position and his offense lacked. Would I have traded him No.
Dozier was a good player but was never consistent his entire career. Most will see that Garcia will be and is better already and taller. Coleman gives us the inside factor again that we had with Joey. We missed that last year with no inside intimidator besides Tags.
Tags will be back and is solid on defense and has an offensive game.
Sally and Mack at shooting guard is a nice one two coming back.
Willie at the point will show he can play since he won’t have a prick yelling in his ear twenty four seven.
Niles I don’t think will be a factor unless he gets down to 270 and I doubt he does it.
Witherspoon is going to be great and can play the four, three, and two. He was slowed down last year with a torn meniscus.
Add in Latvious and Bledsoe – two top twenty 5ish players and we will have two deep everywhere. You add Lance and your scary good. Without Lance I think we would be top 10. You add Lance and I think we have a shot at a final four.
Last think and I think this is the biggest. Cal wasn’t the greatest floor coach. He could develop guards, he couldn’t develop big men. Cal also tore down players instead of built up. Pastner is so positive I have no doubt everyone will reach their potential under him. Pastner is also going to switch to an offense similar to the old Arizona teams. I think this will benefit everyone more than the dribble drive which was a guard and small forward driven offense.
Guys I think we are going to be good but I don’t think others will see this until next year. I just don’t think people outside the program really know a lot about who we have and they will be surprised. Good luck to all the teams out there next season. If you have any questions I can try to answer them for you.
By the way Wall is and has been a lock to Ky since Cal left. Don’t be fooled by anything. Cal had this locked almost a year ago.
Lance ends up in Europe next year, and he has to pay extra fees because he is over the baggage limit for the flight… You can book it
cd Tiger,
Who knows Josh better?
Memphis fans or Arizona fans.
My vote would be with Arizona fans.
Which fans know the Arizona offense more.
Yes, Arizona fans.
Memphis is being referred to as the arizona of the East.
without the capital A. They have not earn it yet.
But, which ever teams lands Lance-A-Lot….it is all good.
At least Kansas Jaycoks didnt’t. bla,bla,bla…..
PS- MoMo is not going anywhere.
He signed the LOI and we are all happy.
I think if this decision was up to Lance, and not his dad, he would be playing at St. John’s next season. There are more reasons for Lance to stay home than go to Arizona, Maryland, Kansas, Memphis, Kentucky, or Europe.
1. Playing at the World’s Most Famous Arena, MSG
2. MSG would actually sell out with everyone coming to see Lance
3. The city would view him as a savior of NYC hoops
4. St. John’s has a lot of returning talent in Mason, Horne, Burrell, Kennedy, Boothe, Evans and newcomer Omari Lawerence
5. With him, they could make it to the BIG DANCE in a down year for the BIG EAST
6. At other schools he would be viewed as an other recruit, but if he was successful at SJU he would be remembered as one of the St. John’s greats thus improving his draft stock
7. Lance would be the focal point of the offense
Besides all these points, I don’t think he’s staying home. This is his order I believe:
1. Zona
2. St. John’s
3. Europe
4. Maryland
5. Kentucky
6. Memphis
7. Kansas
I think it’s pretty obvious Memphis will be worse than St. John’s next year. They have absolutely nobody and play in C-USA. Only Memphis fans think they’ll be good next year. Go Johnnies!!! (Good luck Norm!!!)
Tiger
I hope you are right about Wall going to Kentucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First – St John’s has not been relevant since about 1985. Next contrary to what was reported when Cal first left only one current player is leaving – X Henry’s brother. What do you even know abut the program. Please reply and tell me what you know since you think we will suck. It can’t be much since Lance himself cut his list down to two schools Zona and Memphis but your order list Memphis as sixth. Not that an order makes a difference because only #1 matters. Let see – St. Johns has been recruiting Lance for months and Memphis has been recruiting him for two weeks and Memphis is in the final two. That should about sum up the comparison of St. John’s and Memphis
LMAO. ST. JOHNS. THE KNICKS OF THE NCAA
THEY LIKE OBAMA’S HOPE CAMPAIGN WITHOUT THE SUCCESS
LOL. JUST JOKES. DONT TAKE EM SERIOUS
TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. IF MEMPHIS AND ST JOHNS PLAYED AND WE DIDNT HAVE THE RECRUITS WE’D STILL WIN…
I am 100% right about Wall. As far as Memphis not having talent you are crazy. If Bledsoe comes he is a 5* if Williams comes he is a 5* and I believe both will.
Kemp=4*
Garcia=4*
Mack=4*
Coleman=2 highest rated Juco 4*
Tags=4*
Witherspoon4*
Sally was a 3* but I don’t know what he was in Juco. He was I believe the highest rated in Cali and he is good so that is what matters
Niles=3*
How can you say they don’t have talent. Guys look out when Memphis plays next year. They will be better than this year and will be in the top 15 by year end, Top five if Lance comes
Ukcat
Tiger is right I would be shocked if Wall doesn’t go to UK. Cal is the master at closing the big deal. Also, Gary Parrish at cbs sports lives just outside of Memphis and has a local daily radio show. He is very in the know and is well connected and before Cal left for UK he repeatedly said on his local radio show he thought Wall would end up at Memphis. I think this would carry over to UK. What are they reporting about Bledsoe and where do you think he will sign?
Fantastic arguments on this site! I love the passion from everybody, even those who abuse my alma mater.
Gary’s teams don’t always play with the best fundamentals but he does run pretty good offensive sets and gets them to play hard.
As for young Lance – just pick a school and get ready for college. Practice starts in 5 months.
“Various other transfers”???? You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Yes, they lost the vast majority of Cal’s recruiting class, but pretty much all of the returning players stayed. The only transfers were C.J. Henry, who was a walk on last year and was injured the entire season, and Matt Simpkins, who was academically ineligible until December last year and then was suspended for the rest of the season around early February. So no one of consequence transferred, and Simpkins transferring was more Pastner’s decision than in was Simpkins. “Decimated” is a little dramatic. Ignoring the recruits for a second, because they never even put on a Tiger uniform, Memphis lost Evans, Anderson, and Dozier. Everyone else of consequence will be back. That includes Roburt Sallie, Wesley Witherspoon, Shawn Taggart (assuming he comes to his senses and pulls out of the NBA draft), Doneal Mack, Willie Kemp, Pierre Henderson-Niles, and Angel Garcia (who is really an addition because he was ineligible last year). Will Coleman will be a solid addition, and will probably start right away. Now, that’s not a top 25 team, but with the possibility of Bledsoe, Williams, and Stevenson being added, it could be. Decimated? You only wish that was the case. Sorry to inform you, but Memphis basketball isn’t going away.
St Johnposter,
I think you are RIGHT on.
“Besides all these points, I don’t think he’s staying home. This is his order I believe:
1. Zona”
LA LA land agrees with YOU.
Why do you keep quoting the word decimated? It is spelled correctly. Here is a link if you don’t understand what it means…
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimated
“decimated – to cause great destruction or harm to”
I said various other transfers, you say there were two. Wow.
I say decimated, you say… well, we might be a top 25 team if we get blank, blank and blank. DUDE!!! You were going to be a top 2 team before all this went down. Now, you even admit you won’t be a top 25 team. That is all I am saying. I guess whether that constitutes using the word decimated can be debated.
pretty sure he meant UK… KU is done with its class per Self
1MphsFan ..
Before Cal, when was the last time Memphis went to the Final Four… 1985.. the same year as St. John’s..
I am by no means a Kentucky but niceof you to make assumptions with out facts…
College basketball is ALL about the coach with the exception of a few schools.. UNC.. UCLA.. Kansas… Kentucky.. a few others but those schools haven’t had coaching changes of late.. Kids go to play for the coach, not the school… if you think Memphis is going to get anywhere near the level Coach Cal had had them in the last few years, please send me some of what ever it is you are smoking because it must be some potent stuff…
Oh, that’s what it means? I had no idea. Thank you so much for clarifying. You’re very kind. Look, there’s something else to consider here other than definitions. It’s called context. If you don’t know what context means, you can probably find that word on your handy dandy online dictionary, too. You said that Memphis had “various other transfers” in the context of those transfers having a negative impact on the basketball program. They don’t. Losing Simpkins is addition by subtraction. The guy was a cancer. C.J. Henry never stepped on the court for Memphis and hasn’t played basketball competitively in something like 5 years, so that’s no great loss. My point was that the two transfers that have occurred have absolutely no impact on the team. You implied that they did. And no, I don’t think that going from a sweet 16 team to just a conference championship contender outside of the top 25 constitutes destruction (to use your wonderful definition of decimated). My other point is that this thing isn’t over, yet, and Memphis has a chance to not only be good next year (which they would be if they don’t add anyone else), but very good to great. Let’s see where the chips fall before we start talking about “great destruction.” It seems more likely than not that Williams will be at Memphis. Bledsoe, who is the guy Memphis needs the most, seems at least 50-50 right now. The fact that Kentucky is still in on Wall makes me think that Bledsoe is more likely to end up at Memphis. Who knows about Stephenson, but this story makes it sound like he’s a real possibility too.
Calipari is a great recruiter but certainly not a great (or even good) coach.
Gary can’t land decent recruits because he hasn’t developed a 1st round NBA player in almost a decade. The Washington Post detailed how lazy he was becoming in recruiting, funny how Maryland fans read lazy as ‘principaled’
I live Kentucky blue and I will say I believe Memphis will have a quality team next season………potentially very good…….great (if they sign bledsoe and lance)
how will they do in the near future beyond…………..don’t know…….next season though they will be good!
Hey bud
I am not an “insider” by any means……..just an average Joe
and I truly hope Wall goes to UK……..they need him
Bledsoe is either going to UK or memphis……..
if Wall was signed for UK I think bledsoe would go to memphis (unless T Evans was staying) – then I am not sure…….because he would be choosing between two schools where he would come off the bench as opposed to be a starter
I saw an interview where Bledsoe said he would still go to UK if Wall went…….interpret that how you like……..
I am surprised that Bledsoe suddenly had a host of skools on his list and chopped it down to 2 during the week (what seemed like out of nowhere)
Other thing that surprised me was how Florida had been Bledsoe’s top choice for a while and suddenly they’re out completely
I think Bledsoe will announce this coming week for sure (hopefully by mid-week)
I am gonna say he’ll be a Memphis Tiger (but this is my opinion, I am not an insider at all – wish I was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
But I’d loveeeeeeeee for UK to have 2 top-rated point guards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with Pgrady
the coach comes 1st I’d say 90% of the time
sometimes there are cases where a kid always wanted to go to a certain school regardless of coach and even coaching changes, just always wanted to play for a certain school
Which is why I am so thrilled that Calipari is coach at UK cause he gets top recruits……and that’s how you win championships
Those who believe UK “sold out” and got him……..whatever
if you don’t get the recruits you aren’t going to win………period
look at what’s happened to duke (who I despise)
they haven’t been getting the recruits they used to…..have they been going to final fours?
NOPE!
Hope it stays that way!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my last post but the Tigers were good when Penny played. They didn’t reach the final four but they made the elite eight and had a sweet sixteen in there as well. Some of you forget that Cal couldn’t do jack for like six years when he was at Memphis. He was great his last four but the guy had problems. We made one NCAA tournament in those six years and we got smashed by Arizona St. because Cal went to weak man to man defense. That had to be one of the dumbest coaching moves I had ever seen besides not calling a timeout and fouling Kansas to win the Championship.
My point Cal is not a good floor coach and it will come out more at Ky. The benefit of playing in Conf USA if you are a one and done is that you get to build your confidence throughout the season. Meaning yes they play less talent but a lot of guys get discouraged and they are finished before the season started. It will be much harder to win with one and done guys in the Big East than it is n conf USA. If we were in the Big East we would be good by the end of the season but it wouldn’t matter if it took all those freshman 3/4ths of the year to develop which is how long it took Rose and about half the season for Evans.
Lastly Pastner knows Arizona basketball more than their fans. The guy graduated in 2 1/2 years for goodness sakes. He played under Olsen for four. He was an assistant and lead recruiter for Arizona. At Memphis they will be good down the road because there is money here. We pay our assistants better than 98% of the rest of college basketball. Memphis is a baskteball town. Besides the couple years with Tic Price and Cals six poor seasons we have been on the map people just not in the elite. Pastner will take us back and if he is here for a while I think he will have a shot at the title.
lance should just come to kansas…play a good amount of time and contribute to win the NC…and instead of lance and X leaving after a year…shock the world and return for a second year where the spotlight would be on just lance and X and they would be once ag???
I’m a MD fan (although not a great fan of Gary Williams) and I didn’t want Lance because I don’t think he’s that great. If he played in the Baltimore-DC area, he wouldn’t be considered as highly ranked. He’ll pick a school eventually, under-perform during the season, declare for the draft, blame his poor season on the coach, get picked in the second round, not make a NBA team and never be heard from again.
So Memphis will be good because they pay their assistance well.
Should we be talking about the assistance?
As the real head coaches of Memphis.
I think so.
LA LA lands thinks…..why did the Memphis AD have to and REQUIRE that he also interview the assistant coaches. The AD needed to approve the HIRES.
We all understand Josh’s strengths and Weaknesses.
Josh will be a very good coach in 7 years at Memphis. Josh needs some coaching BB experience and he will be good. Until that time,Memphis will be a ranked in the 30′s – in that mighty conference. No mor final fours.
We do like Josh’s line of “we will run more – more than when Cal was here.”
PS-UK posters…
All this suking up about Memphis.
Enough please.
You guys went into Memphis and basically rapxx them of all the recruits.
That was UK only move.
Especially ,that horrible season from last year.
How WWW enjoying UK.
With that said, lets return to the topic at hand…
Zag–
West coast is seeing a great trend develope.
First, we see Zag article discuss a potential recruit desire -interest in a West Coast school. Zag typically has direct contact with the HS coach or family or recruit.
That is awesome ,baby.
Then, another article pops up in the West Coast, in the afternoon or evening.
It is a follow up discusson about the recruit.
This is also great.
Because you have not stop – 24/7 discussions going from East Coast to West Coast.
Keep it UP….
And how is Kevin P doing and Arizona.
Arizona is blowing up. And the visit is going great.
uahoopscoach.com has an outline of the Kevin P visit.
And Kevin P is projected as a starter.
While at Pitt, he will NOT be a starter and may not see the light of day, freshman year (no playing time, who is JessieWildcat?)
Looks like Arizona values Kevin P much more than Pitt.
Book did a great job on Kevin P and on Knight.
Imagine some pick up games with Agent Zero, Bayless, RJ,……..
Lets see if some PICs can be texted over…from the visit.
Kevin P….90% chance of going to Arizona.
What is your call on this Zag?
Give us that East coast view.
Note: Yo….Memphis……LA LA land is talking about this…NC
The actions and decisions made by Arizona-Miller have one goal in mind.
“I always hoped that I would have an opportunity to be at a place that can win the national championship, and to try to do the best I can at that program,” Miller said.
Paying your assistants well is very important mimi. If you can’t find top recruiters to come into a program ur stuck at a mediocre level. Memphis is able to attract top recruiters based on pay and the coach.
By the way Pastner has been coaching since highschool and is well respected. He will not have a learning curve as much as u think but go USC I mean Arizona I mean any team in the Pac 10
Tiger,
I hope the learning curve for Josh is shorter than longer.
Josh is a good guy and deserves success.
If anyone is interested….KEVIN Parron visit to ARIZONA.
I believe Kevin P is visiting Arizona today.
As part of the visit….he is having same games with the team and Former Player (NBA players).
This should be fun to watch LIVE.
People are trying to get the WEB cam in for a real life chronicle of the visit.
Just keep checking on:
uahoopscoach site
or wildcatsportsreport (go to Lance-A-Lot thread)
Both are free.
This should give Zag more info on the visit….
Lets see if the CAM goes on soon?
http://www.examiner.com/x-1089-Baltimore-Sports-Examiner~y2009m5d2-Stephenson-turns-down-St-Johns-are-Terps-next
“Stephenson turns down St. John’s, are Terps next? It seems like Arizona may now be in the lead to land him.
Zag,
Why did you get St. John’s fans excited when you wrote the article that said Stephenson was about to commit to St. John’s and he has done all but that. Papa Stephenson should let his son where to pick, and support his son’s decision. If that was the case, he would be in Queens next year, but it’s not. Lance, good luck at Arizona.
St. John’s will be better than Maryland and Memphis next year. St. John’s is coming back with everybody healthy plus Omari Lawerence and Anthony Mason, Jr. will come back after redshirting. The junior class Norm put together with Horne, Burrell, Kennedy, etc. was highly rated. The next two years St. John’s will be in the mix for a tourney bid. Maryland lost to Duke 3x including a 41 point loss. While St. John’s put up a great effort with injuries and lost by 7. Maryland is losing their best player too. Now Memphis will be the worst of the three, however they’ll go dancing because they play in the C-USA. Memphis is losing everybody and will take a year or two to rebuild.
Lance it makes sense to stay home so do it.
Largest media market + Tons of endorsements after school + Big East Competiton + Revive SJU+ Sold out MSG + Start at SG+ Strong supporting cast + front page of paper everyday + veteran leadership + ncaa tourney run + NYC = # 1 pick in NBA Draft
No school can match that offer St. John’s has (but it won’t happen)
Zag,
Need your confirmation on Lance-A-Lot….
West Coast is reporting… .MEMPHIS is OUT.
Not sure many believed that Memphis was really one of the two left.
So, Arizona and Lance are really close?
From what is being said….
Lance and Arizona’s time frame is within 10days or so.
A decision will be made soon.
Book will be visiting NY, this week.
Check out the sites.
uofahoopscoach…Kevin P article and comment section.
and
http://www.wildcatsportsreport.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10
Lance-A-Lot thread.
Sorry Zag,
These are the two sites.
And another posting is going up in LA.
http://uahoopscoach.com/?p=1599&cpage=2#comment-13519
Note:
Looks like the inexperience did play a factor, with Lance’s father.
USC.trojan, your posts suck. I link into that boring Pac -10 $hit and it puts me to sleep. Other than USC winning in football (by cheating) your conference delivers vollyball and swimming championships. Does anybody else really care about your time zone? Stick w/ that lame Fox coverage–Barry Tompkins & Marques Johnson really rock.
Stephenson is 50/50 on going eurotrash vs. Arizona.
Do I sound like an arrogant Kansas fan? Good, that’s what I was going for.
first of all usctrojan
my post about memphis being good next year is not sucking up, it is my opinion…….and actually a fact
they will be good……not as good as Kentucky……..but good
2nd, correct me if i am wrong, but the Henry brothers are not going to kentucky, they’re going to kansas……and nolan dennis is going to baylor……not kentucky
Kentucky did not get all the memphis recruits, if they did (plus the UK recruits), they’d have the single greatest recruiting class in college basketball history
3rd, if I thought a team was going to suck, I would say that, I don’t need to pussyfoot around on here, I call it like I see it
and USC will suck next year
KENTUCKY WILL RULE NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how you like them apples????
The best chocie for lance would be to go to st johns it is a perfect fit…
1- he is the #1 option
2-they return every player so they will be strgonger then many think
3-there is no place bigger in the world than NYC
even though i do think he will end up at memphis or arizona he is making a mistake.