Jennings Says Lance Should Go to Europe | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / March 29.
  • Jennings Says Lance Should Go to Europe

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    **Check out my feature on Brandon Jennings wanting to play for the Knicks.

    **For more Knicks, check out point guard Chris Duhon with Tommy Dee tonight on TKB Radio.

    GREENBURGH, N.Y. — OK, now I officially have no idea where Lance Stephenson is going to college.

    Just a week after I said I thought Maryland was the leader for his services, the Baltimore Sun is quoting two unnamed sources as saying the Terps are no longer recruiting the 6-foot-5 Stephenson.

    Last week Lance said he was considering Arizona, Florida, Maryland and Memphis and would decide within “three weeks.”

    If Maryland and Florida are both out, does he end up at Arizona or Memphis? Or does he go somewhere else, like a Florida International?

    At various times, I have thought St. John’s, Kansas and Maryland would land Lance, the all-time leading scorer in New York State history and a McDonald’s All-American. Now all three schools appear to be out.

    I still don’t believe any college commitment can happen until after Stephenson’s sexual assault case is resolved. It was adjourned until June 29.

    Could Europe be an option?

    The Stephensons have repeatedly said it is not, but Brandon Jennings said he thought Europe would be a good move for Lance.

    “Yes, I really do,” said Jennings, who spent last season in Italy and on Monday worked out for the Knicks in preparation for the upcoming NBA Draft. “I think it will humble him a lot. I think he’ll need that, just make him mature on and off the court, start doing things for himself, taking care of his responsibilities.”

    Yet Jennings admitted he hadn’t spoken directly to Stephenson.

    “No, the only person I’ve talked to is Jeremy Tyler,” Jennings said, referring to the 6-10 San Diego High School junior who will skip his senior year of high school to play in Europe. “He’s real excited and I can’t wait for the kid to go over there.”

    “I think that’s a really good idea,” Jennings added of Tyler. “It’s more of a big man’s game over there. The bigs get to stay in the key. The bigs get to do a lot, so I think he’ll do better than I did. I don’t think he should go to a team that’s really, really good. He should go to a team that’s so-so OK so can get some playing time and get used to playing.”

    Jennings also said anyone who goes to Europe should be accompanied by his parents. Brandon’s mother and younger brother spent the year in Italy with him.

    “I think any kid [who] goes over there, they should have their parents or somebody go over there with them,” he said. “I wouldn’t do it by yourself for your first year.”

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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