As I reported last week, Memphis may be the last major option for Lance Stephenson. And even Memphis head coach Josh Pastner hasn’t heard much lately from Lance Sr.
Andy Katz is reporting that a source close to the Florida International program says they are no longer recruiting the 6-foot-5 Stephenson.
Actually, I reported this more than a month ago when I quoted Latavious Williams saying he had spoken to Isiah Thomas, who said they were out.
For those keeping track at home, the following schools have let it be known that they’re out: Florida, Florida International, Kansas, Maryland and St. John’s.
Arizona coach Sean Miller has made it clear that he’s probably not interested, but I’m not completely willing to shut the door on Arizona yet.
But unless a USC, a Providence or a Seton Hall gets involved late, I’m at a loss as to where Stephenson will end up.
Prep school? JUCO? Europe?
Memphis still leads the poll I posted with about 38 percent of the vote, followed by Europe (29 percent) and then Arizona (15).
Stay tuned for my column on this subject on SNY.tv on Wednesday.
EDWIN ENJOYS PROVIDENCE
Fuquan Edwin, a 6-6, 190-pound rising senior forward from Paterson (N.J.) Catholic, tripped to Providence on Tuesday and will hit Seton Hall on Thursday.
“I enjoyed myself, got to see the campus a little bit,” Edwin said of Providence. “I went in the library. I met the lady that travels with the basketball team.”
Edwin, who helped PC win the Passaic County championship last year and beat St. Anthony of Jersey City in the State tournament, knows Providence redshirt freshman Bilal Dixon, who played at Queen of Peace High School in North Jersey.
He also visited the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and met with head coach Keno Davis, who told him he would be held accountable, like all players, during practice.
“He’s saying you gotta earn your spot and in practice they do your stats, too,” he said.
Edwin will next hit Seton Hall, which features former PC point guard Jordan Theodore.
His mother, Anisa Thomas, stepfather, Hassan Hargrove, and grandfather will make that trip with him.
“I know I’m going to be a 2/3 and both of the teams like to run and gun so I’ll fit into either one of the teams,” Edwin said.
DERRICK WILLIAMS’ LIST
Despite my post earlier today that 6-7 forward Derrick Williams of La Mirada, Calif. will decide between Arizona and Memphis, Williams actually said his list includes several other teams.
“Memphis, Arizona, Arizona State, Gonzaga, Miami,” Williams, who is on an official to Memphis, wrote in a text. “I’m going to look over all my options and then decide.”
As for when he might decide, he said: “Anytime, probably during the first week of July.”
DUO TO VISIT KENTUCKY
New York guard Doron Lamb will visit Kentucky on Wednesday, per Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal.
The 6-4 Lamb, now at Oak Hill Academy, also recently visited St. John’s while in New York for the Rumble in the Bronx.
Charlottesville (Va.) forward Mychal Parker will visit later in the week, possibly Thursday.
DRAFT CENTRAL
The following players eligible for Thursday’s NBA Draft will be available to the media Wednesday in NYC:
§ Stephen Curry (Davidson)§ Austin Daye (Gonzaga)
§ DeMar DeRozan (USC)
§ Tyreke Evans (Memphis)
§ Jonny Flynn (Syracuse)
§ Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)
§ Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina)
§ James Harden (Arizona State)
§ Gerald Henderson (Duke)
§ Jordan Hill (Arizona)
§ Jrue Holiday (UCLA)
§ Brandon Jennings (Lottomatica Virtus Roma, Italy)
§ Ricky Rubio (DKV Joventut Badalona, Spain)
§ Hasheem Thabeet (UConn)
§ Terrence Williams (Louisville)
