Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson

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2011-01-30T11:56:00.001-08:00

Is 'Born ready' is NBA ready ? as Stephenson signs deal with Pacers...

2010-08-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

“Born ready” is one step closer to living up to his moniker.

Former Lincoln HS star Lance Stephenson inked an undisclosed multi-year contract with the Indiana Pacers yesterday afternoon, just weeks after he thrived in the NBA’s Orlando summer league, averaging nearly 15 points per game.

The second-round pick, who spent one year at the University of Cincinnati and was named the Big East Rookie of the Year, also led the league in field goal percentage at 73 percent and was second on his team in scoring. Team president Larry Bird said shortly after the draft he was surprised Stephenson was available at the 40th pick.It’s the best of both worlds,” his father, Lance Stephenson Sr., said. “We got a good team and they got a good player. The Pacers have been a class organization. They treated him like a first-round pick. It’s a good day for both sides.”

Stephenson was in Indiana and unable to be reached for comment.

The Pacers used the 6-foot-5 Stephenson, 19, at both guard spots, but it was at point guard, a position he seldom played during high school or college, where he opened eyes. The move worked well, as the Coney Island product excelled as a playmaker, not only for himself, but those around him.

“The deal reflects a commitment by both sides,” said Stephenson’s agent, Alberto Ebanks. “Today marked the realization of a lifelong dream and at the same time the start of a new and exciting chapter in his life. He is playing for a great coach, for a Hall of Fame boss and in a town rich in basketball history. Who could ask for more?”

The next test for the all-time leading scorer in New York State history is training camp.

“I’m just happy everybody saw the talent in him,” said Dwayne (Tiny) Morton, who coached Stephenson at Lincoln. “He proved a lot of people wrong. He’s got a chance to show everybody he can play. He made his dream come true.” by BRAZILER

Born Ready - Lance Stephenson is growing up quickly at Cincinnati

2010-01-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

he high school basketball player they called "Born Ready" was anything but, at least away from the basketball court. The amazing thing about that was he was the first to realize it. "I needed to be away from New York to learn how to be a man,'' Lance Stephenson said this week. "I was glad to come out here to change my life.''
Out here is Cincinnati, a small place compared to where Stephenson is from. They'll give him elbow room in Cincinnati, everywhere but in the lane. The locals are respectful of their sports stars. They're grateful enough to let their heroes breathe.
When Deion Sanders played center field for the Reds in the mid-'90s, he marveled at the space he got from fans. Prime Time was "household,'' as he liked to say. He was a two-sport jock, a bejeweled celeb who dabbled in hip-hop and was among the most recognizable sports people on the planet.
In Cincinnati, he could go to the mall. He could eat at a restaurant and not need VIP seating.
Stephenson could not have known any of that when he agreed last June to play quasi-amateur basketball at the University of Cincinnati. What he did know was that New York was starting to smother him. Breathing was a problem. So was being the next Next. New York is always looking for the next Next. That was Stephenson, who got Next from Sebastian Telfair, who inherited it from Stephon Marbury by way of Kenny Anderson. And so on.
When your high school team wins four city titles and you break the state's all-time scoring record (held by Telfair, who took it from Anderson), you are going to be pampered. Or as Stephenson put it, "respected too much.''
"In New York, everything was given to me. Out here, they keep me grounded. It's not like, 'Oh, he's a superstar, let's treat him different.'
"If everything is given to you, you feel like, 'I can do whatever I want and get away with it.' Out here I can't get away with everything.''
Either Stephenson talks as good as he plays, or there was a whole lot of misjudging going on the last few years.
Hoop junkies know his story: A legend at Coney Island's Lincoln High who had the Born Ready nickname applied to him by a Rucker Park announcer during a summer league game in 2006. The star of an Internet TV series of the same name, for which he received much attention from the NCAA, whose sleuths wanted to know if he got paid.
Stephenson took a tour of an Under Armour warehouse in Baltimore, while on an official visit to Maryland. The company's founder and CEO is also on Maryland's Board of Trustees. Oops. On top of that, Stephenson was charged with sexual assault for groping a 17-year-old girl.
All that happened in a two-year span. Many college coaches were scared off, seeing more risk than reward, even as recruiting experts proclaimed Stephenson to be the next Next. After Cincinnati signed him, the Bearcats had to sweat an NCAA tooth-combing. Stephenson was cleared just before UC's first exhibition game in November.
A kid could get exhausted from all that hype.
"You like it in the beginning,'' Stephenson said. "You feel like you're different than other people.''
Different was good for awhile: The press, the fawning, the awe when he entered a playground or a gym. Look at me.
That changed when the NCAA started looking at his film career and the press went south after the sexual assault charge. Different was no longer good. "It was a negative thing in my life and I wanted to change it,'' Stephenson said.
Stephenson pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in the assault case and was sentenced to community service. He wasn't paid for Born Ready. He's no longer on the NCAA's hit list. He has adapted to college life in a way that delights him.
Stephenson earned a 3.5 GPA in his first college quarter. He never achieved better than a 2.0 in high school. Skeptics would suggest he excelled at Dick and Jane and never missed a Connect-the-Dots class. His academic advisor, Sara Piepho, said Stephenson's courses were legit: "They're not basket-weaving and Yoga 101,'' she said. In fact, Stephenson's schedule included an English class and a paralegal course.
When Piepho told Stephenson late last quarter that the 3.5 was a possibility, he wanted to call his parents. Their reaction was, "Are you serious?''
Piepho was wary of Stephenson when he arrived. Blue-chip recruit, not expected to stay more than a year or two: Another guy she'd have to run down and introduce to study hall. "Any time you have a kid who could be one-and-done, you wonder,'' she said. It hasn't happened that way. "If I could clone him, I would. He's disciplined and driven. He makes good decisions.''
Stephenson hasn't been the me-first playground player some suspected he'd be, either. If anything, he has held back. He leads Cincinnati in scoring at 12.7 points a game, but that's only slightly better than Deonta Vaughn's 11 points a game and Yancy Gates' 10.
"In high school, I could just go. Take over,'' Stephenson said. "I do that here, (defenses) collapse on me, I get a turnover.''
The one game he did take over on Dec. 30, the Bearcats upset Connecticut. Stephenson had 21 points, including the game-winning free throws. Still, he's not a finished product. Stephenson is not Kentucky's John Wall. He's still learning when to pass and when to shoot, and how to fight through screens on defense.
"Sometimes, he's in the all-pass mode,'' said Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin. "Sometimes, he's in the all-drive mode. When he (learns) when to pass, when to shoot, when to drive and take what the defense gives him, he's going to be a special offensive player.''
In the meantime, the learning continues for Born Ready. He'll be back in New York on Wednesday night, in Madison Square Garden against St. John's. Stephenson refers to Cincinnati as "out here.'' Either he sees it as the small-town outback, or an out from the unique burdens of being a New York schoolboy basketball prodigy. Maybe both.
It's nice to go home, Stephenson figures. But only for short time. By:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/paul_daugherty/01/13/stephenson/index.html

Lance stephenson scores career high !

2009-12-06T18:08:00.001-08:00

Seven players on the No. 22/24 University of Cincinnati men's basketball team scored in double figures, leading the Bearcats to a 94-57 victory over Texas Southern University on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Arena. The 37-point win is the largest margin of victory in head coach Mick Cronin's tenure at UC.
Rashad Bishop led all UC scorers with 14 points, while Dion Dixon and Steve Toyloy added 13, Deonta Vaughn scored 12, and Yancy Gates and Jaquon Parker contributed 10 points. The last time UC won as a ranked team was on March 17, 2005 when the Bearcats defeated Iowa, 76-64, in the NCAA Austin Regional. UC was ranked No. 23 at that time.
Cincinnati won the tip and held the Tigers scoreless for the first 4:02 of the game, jumping out to a 7-0 lead. Texas Southern drained back-to-back three pointers until Parker hit Darnell Wilks with a mid-court alley-oop, stopping the 6-0 run by Texas Southern. TSU responded with another 3-pointer, tying the game at nine, but that would be as close as the Tigers would get.
Toyloy connected on two free throws that started a 20-1 run over 4:57 and gave UC a 29-10 lead with 8:13 to go in the first period. Gates had two dunks and Anthony McClain had a fastbreak jam during that span. Texas Southern went on a 9-4 run and pulled within 14, but Vaughn hit one of three Bearcat 3-pointers and Wilks slammed a dunk over the final 3:39 to give UC a 44-22 halftime advantage.
Nine Cincinnati players scored in the first half and UC outscored TSU, 24-2, in the paint. The halftime advantage of 22 points was Cincinnati's largest halftime lead of the season. Bishop poured in 11 points in the first half and was perfect from the field (5-for-5).
No team jumped out offensively to start the second half and Texas Southern did not getting closer than 19 with 16:12 to go. A 3-pointer by Vaughn started a 7-0 run for UC and Cincinnati pushed out to 59-32 lead. Stephenson grabbed a rebound and handed out back-to-back assists to give UC a 30-point lead and a Wilks 3-pointer 28 seconds later put UC up, 69-38, with 11:27 to go. It took 1:09 before the next bucket and then UC went on a 12-4 run and held a 39-point advantage, 81-42, with 6:20 left to play. The Bearcats continued to push and Toyloy scored eight of UC's last nine points, two off of feeds from Alex Eppensteiner, as Cincinnati rolled to the victory.
Lance Stephenson grabbed a game and career-high 11 rebounds and scored seven points with a game and career-high seven assists.
After nine days off, the Bearcats return to the floor at U.S. Bank Arena for a home game vs. Miami University (OH) on Dec. 10 at 8:30 p.m.

Lance stephenson scores career high !

2009-12-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

Born Ready in Cincinnati Unversity college shruggles

2009-11-19T16:43:00.000-08:00

Stephenson being 'Born Ready'

Filed Under: Freshmen, Big East
It’s a good thing Lance Stephenson moved on from his “Born Ready” nickname. It didn’t apply in his debut.

Cincinnati’s 6-5 guard is billed as one of the nation’s impact freshmen (fell for it), but there are no words for opening with a 7-point, 4-rebound performance against Prairie View A&M. The Bearcats won the game (barely), otherwise you’d be reading about UCLA and Cincy stumbling on Monday.

As for Stephenson – 2-10 from the field, 0-3 beyond the arc and 1 turnover in 22 minutes – there’s an explanation.

“He was a nervous wreck,” Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said. “He’ll get better. I’ve got to make sure he’s not putting too much pressure on himself. When we were struggling, he was the one guy in the huddle trying to fire everybody up. You could see his frustration. You could see his desire to win.”

Nervousness in your college hoops debut is understandable. Only a chosen few can open with a memorable night.

But it seems odd for Stephenson to have those jitters. He’s one of the most celebrated players from NYC. He’s been on the AAU circuit and played in high-pressure situations before. What’s going to happen when the Bearcats play better teams or get into Big East play?

Perhaps Cincy now has a player who’ll stick around for more than one season.

Lance going to Kansas Or ???

2009-06-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

Video Posted from Lance's Gallery on Takkle.com

Lance Stephenson to choose college soon; Kansas is likely destination
By I. Begley and M. Lelinwalla
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS

Lincoln's Lance Stephenson is expected to pick Kansas over Maryland and St. John's when he makes his college commitment.

While Lincoln hoops star Lance Stephenson was scheduled to announce his college commitment Tuesday morning as part of the McDonald's All-American High School basketball game's media day at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla., the Daily News has learned he likely will hold off on that announcement a little longer.

Sources still strongly expect Stephenson to choose Kansas, one even adding that he's "99.9% sure" the Coney Island product will join the Jayhawks and pass on St. John's and Maryland. Sources believe Stephenson will choose a college if he is academically eligible and not follow prep star Brandon Jennings and play in Europe.

Stephenson's father vows his son has taken the SATs and will be eligible to play in college next season.

An announcement this week would end months of speculation over Stephenson's college plans. Stephenson originally told reporters as early as December that he was going to announce his commitment at the Garden after Lincoln captured its fourth consecutive PSAL championship - which it did - but he never did.

His career at Lincoln ended abruptly Saturday, in a 77-50 loss to Rice for the State Federation Class AA championship.

Kansas currently has 14 scholarship players for next year and Sherron Collins has hinted at returning for his senior season. That means Kansas would need Cole Aldrich to go pro and a player to give up his scholarship or leave school to make room for Stephenson. It is likely Kansas will accomodate Stephenson if he makes a commitment to the school.

Lance appeared in court !

2009-06-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

All-American basketball star Lance Stephenson appeared in Brooklyn criminal court after being arrested on sexual abuse charges.

The Lincoln High School star was arrested with teammate Darwin Ellis and an unnamed juvenile for allegedly groping a female student. Stephenson then allegedly told her that he would “slap the hell” out of her.

Stephenson and Ellis were charged with sexual abuse in the third degree, forcible touching, menacing and harassment. A court date was set for June 29.

2009-06-01T13:41:00.001-07:00

Will you invite Lance Born Ready to your College ?

2009-06-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

His stock has fallen farther than General Motors. Once the most-hyped recruit in the country, Lance Stephenson enters June without a school, without much hype and with many in recruiting circles saying he's not worth the trouble. This begs the question: Does anybody still want Lance Stephenson?
Steve Yanda asked as much in The Washington Post this morning. It's partial hyperbole -- of course somebody will still take Stephenson, but for a guy whose college choice commanded national attention two months ago, Yanda argues that the suitors are far less in number than they once were. It's not as much where Stephenson wants to go, but which program will take him.
The questions aren't about Stephenson's game, but about the off-court issues. He seems to be the guy that every coach would rather be somebody else's problem. Between the pending criminal charge, questions about amateur status and the general sense that where Stephen goes drama follows, he just might not be worth it. Gary Williams, for instance, is desperate to sign a big-time national recruit. Will putting up with a possible Stephenson-headache be worth it for next season?
Probably not, when you consider quotes like this from a USA Basketball official. Speaking about Stephenson not making the under-18 men's national team last June:
"[Lance] was worthy of being on [the under-18 men's national team in 2008], but what you deal with is it would have taken too much energy for the coaches to maintain Lance playing less minutes and being on the bench, and it would have diverted [them] from working with the top five to seven guys to win a gold medal."
Translation: Stephenson is a chemistry killer. Taking one-and-done guys (as Stephenson is likely to be) is always a crapshoot, but there always seem to be more danger with the ones whose feet are already out the door before they step foot on campus. That doesn't lead to Final Fours, it leads to first-round NCAA tournament exits and a difficult recruiting situation in the fall.
Headed into the off-season, there were three main recruiting questions to be solved. Xavier Henry committed to Kansas back in April and John Wall signed with Kentucky before Memorial Day. The other dominoes have fallen and it's now up to Stephenson to finish off the major '09 signings. Or, more appropriately, it's up to whichever team decides to welcome him and his circus to town.
yahoo.com

Where is Lance Stephenson going to college ?

2009-05-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

St. John's, once rumored to be the front-runner for the services of high school superstar Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson, is officially out of the sweepstakes.

According to the New York Daily News, sources on both SJU and Stephenson's side say there's virtually no chance the 6-foot-6 guard from Lincoln HS (Brooklyn, N.Y.) will choose Norm Roberts' wallowing program. Maryland, which the Coney Island native made an official visit to in April, is also an afterthought at this point.

That leaves Kentucky (which shelled out a fortune for John Calipari, who'll help ressurect the once-prosperous program) Memphis, and Arizona as the three remaining teams on Stephenson's list.

"At this point (St.John's is) out," a legit source said in an interview with the Daily News.

"They're not a priority for us. Maryland coach embraced Lance, but for some reason that wasn't the right move."

The late signing period ends May 20. Stephenson, however, will not be reprimanded in any way if he makes his decision after that date.

So, the Lance Stephenson saga and sweepstakes continues....With yet an another example of St. John's failing to keep homegrown talent.

They hounded Stephenson throughout the big city of dreams. Stephenson flirted with the notion of staying local and helping the program flee from obscurity.

Stephenson's been an explosive scorer during his stay at Lincoln (he became New York State's all-time leading scorer this season), so it made sense that he would select school that would immediately feature him as the go-to-guy.

Not so fast.

"Roberts and his staff have waited patiently but time is growing short. They still want Stephenson but are now fearful that waiting much longer means missing out on others," states the Daily News, paraphrasing the source.

St. John's fans who have called for Roberts' job the past year have grown tired of it. In the heart of a city filled with talent and hoops hotbeds, SJU diehards see no reason why Roberts can't seem to keep homegrown talent.

It's become a pattern during the Norm Roberts era.

“We’re going to try to recruit the best kids in New York no matter what,” said Roberts in the fall.

Roberts received a major off-season boost when 6-foot-4 New York guard Omari Lawrence committed in late August, following his visit to the Queens, N.Y. campus.

“We’re always going to try to. The key is, the kids are not always going to stay home. I think people tend to forget that they don’t look at it from the opposite side. You know, sometimes kids that live in a rural area will say, ‘I’m sick of living in this rural, country area. I want to go somewhere in the metropolitan area.’"

Roberts continued, "Sometimes you have the city kids say, ‘I’m sick of living in the city, I want to go somewhere else.’ And that’s what happens. What we’ve got to do, is get the guys that are the best, the guys that want to stay home, that want to be here and make them as good as they can possibly be.”

So, another city hoopstar leaves the urban confines. This cat is likely headed for the beautiful blue-eyed beauties and country-side somewhere, as his choices would indicate.

For More on Lance Stephenson, please go to:

http://www.nydailynews.com/

Stephenson was featured on the cover of SLAM when he was 14, was the star of an online reality show, and has been celebrated as the epitome of a hip-hop hoopster. Which is all well and good, except that the kid also happens to be a jerk. Last fall, Stephenson was arrested on a Class B misdemeanor charge of sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl on the school grounds. Midway through his junior season, he was involved in an in-school altercation with a teammate that drew blood. The outcome of his arrest has not yet been decided, but Stephenson was suspended from school for five days (and two ball games) for the fight. OK, youngsters sometimes get into trouble. But consider his behavior late last month during a game in upstate Glens Falls, N.Y., that matched the Big Apple's public school champions (Lincoln) vs. the private school champs (Rice). Late in the first half, Stephenson executed a power dunk, but instead of letting go of the rim he chose to swing-and-sway to emphasize his accomplishment. This led to one of the refs' tooting him for a technical foul, which under local rules simultaneously counts as a personal foul — Stephenson's third. Much to Stephenson's displeasure, his coach, Dwayne Morton, quickly — and appropriately — yanked him from the game. Stephenson responded by loudly cursing the coach — something he's done all season-long — and sitting himself on the floor beyond the end of Lincoln's bench. Still cursing. Morton has put up with his star's antics for two reasons: The kid's extremely talented and has helped Lincoln to four straight PSAL championships. Like most very successful high school coaches, Morton is undoubtedly yearning to graduate into a college job. Rice won the game 77-50, with Stephenson — the state's career scoring leader — scoring only 14 points. According to reports, if Stephenson doesn't choose to pursue a hefty contract overseas — good riddance! — he'll pick Kansas, St. John's or Maryland as his next stop. But why would any self-respecting college coach want anything to do with Stephenson? Especially since he'll only be around campus for one season before declaring for the NBA draft. Just what the NBA needs — another spoiled, self-indulgent, knuckleheaded player who thinks he already belongs in the Hall of Fame. So what's wrong with the game? Too many colleges recruit players on the basis of their talent. Ditto for the NBA's draft process. And hardly anybody recruits/drafts on the basis of a player's character. The truth that so many recruiters/drafters don't get is that talent and character are not always mutually exclusive.

Lance Stephenson will make his college announcement April 1 at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Miami and will likely choose from between defending NCAA champion Kansas and St. John’s.

The 6-foot-5 Stephenson, ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2009 by Hoop Scoop and No. 9 by Rivals, had initially said he might announce after Saturday’s PSAL championship game at Madison Square Garden.

Top-seeded Lincoln is seeking its fourth straight PSAL title and will face No. 2 Kennedy at noon at the Garden.

Instead, Stephenson will wait until April 1, with Kansas or St. John’s the likeliest destinations. Kansas assistant Danny Manning and St. John’s head coach Norm Roberts have been tracking Stephenson in recent weeks.

Stephenson has taken an official visit to Kansas and has seen St. John’s unofficially on numerous occasions.

He also took a much-discussed official visit to Maryland but a source with knowledge said Maryland is basically out of the picture.

Is Lance Stephenson All About The Shoes? - SportsAgentBlog.com | Sports Agent News

2009-03-09T11:46:00.001-07:00

Is Lance Stephenson All About The Shoes? - SportsAgentBlog.com | Sports Agent News

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Born Ready, to play for St. John"s ??

2009-01-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Lance Stephenson, Lincoln get help in win over Jefferson
BY M. LELINWALLA

With St. John's coach Norm Roberts on hand to see Lance Stephenson and Lincoln host Jefferson in Coney Island Thursday night, the Railsplitters' senior phenom didn't disappoint.
Fierce dunks, NBA-range three-pointers and commanding drives inside were all part of Stephenson's 20-point finish, but it was Lincoln's supporting cast that powered the Railsplitters past Jefferson, 87-83.
Lincoln senior Anthony Allen led all scorers with 25 points, and junior Raymond Oloughlin chipped in 18. Keith Spellman and Joel Wright had 19 apiece for Jefferson.
"Those were a couple of secrets I had," said Lincoln coach Dwayne Morton of Allen and Oloughlin. "I didn't know they were going to shine so early. They go hard. Now, Lance has two more guys."
Yes, Lincoln's supporting cast is no longer a secret. Allen and Oloughlin helped Stephenson force Jefferson into costly turnovers late to push Lincoln.
"Coach told us to step up and we did what we had to do," said Allen.
Still, Jefferson didn't back down.
After Stephenson hit a three to lift Lincoln's lead to 81-72 with 1:19 remaining in the game, Jefferson roared back in the final minute and came within to two points. However, Lincoln senior Allen West was able to hit a pair of foul shots and ice the game with 14.9 seconds left.
"Huge," said Morton of West's clutch free throws. "He's the MVP of the game."
Having defeated Boys & Girls and Loughlin last week, Jefferson was expected to give Lincoln (5-0) its biggest challenge. And it did, but the Orange Wave (5-1) wound up leaving Coney Island with its first loss.
And even with the help of his supporting cast, Stephenson had the opportunity to show Roberts what he's made of.
"I'm surprised he came in the building," Stephenson said. "St. John's is on my list."

Born Ready Under a Radar 24/7

2008-12-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

By ADAM FISHER
Naplesnews.com

FORT MYERS — It’s a scene you’re more likely to find in a commercially named professional arena rather than a cozy high school gymnasium.

The final horn sounds, the game is over, and before he can leave the court, the star player is swarmed by throngs of autograph-seekers. Cameras and recorders are shoved in his face as he does his best to answer questions while signing everything handed to him by fans.

In the locker room, the coach wants to address the team but is forced to wait almost 20 minutes while the star fights his way through the crowd.

Very few high school basketball players receive such treatment. For Lance Stephenson, it’s just another game and the attention that comes with being the best player in one of the world’s most recognizable cities.

“It’s not a distraction,” said Stephenson, the top-ranked player in the nation from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. “I’m used to it. I’ve been playing since I was little.”

Stephenson, who at 6-foot-6 can play guard or forward, showed Monday why he’s considered the best player in the country by HoopScoop.com and a top 10 senior by most recruiting services. He had 26 points and 12 rebounds in Lincoln’s 81-67 victory over Philadelphia-Roman Catholic in the Bank of America City of Palms Classic at Bishop Verot.

In what has been referred to as one of the most talented high school basketball tournaments ever assembled, Stephenson is the biggest name. He comes from the same school that produced NBA point guards Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, was dubbed “Born Ready” by the regulars at Manhattan’s famed Rucker Park and played in an ESPN-televised game just two weeks ago.

Stephenson started making national headlines long before he led Lincoln to three straight New York City championships. In 2003, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram named the Coney Island, N.Y., native the best seventh-grader in the country.

A year later, a video showed an eighth-grade Stephenson battling top high school player O.J. Mayo, now with the Memphis Grizzlies. The clips made Stephenson a YouTube sensation.

Since leading the Railsplitters to three straight city titles and two state titles in his first three years, the buzz around Stephenson has been amplified. He has his own Web site as a junior (www.bornready.tv), which produced a documentary on his entire season.

Stephenson also turned some heads when he hinted that he might play professional basketball in Europe next season until he is eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft. He has since said he won’t go overseas and is considering Kansas, Memphis, St. John’s and Southern California as college choices.

All the attention hasn’t seemed to faze his team, though.

“Nah,” said coach Dwayne Morton when asked if it was a distraction. “We’re used to it, too.”

In Monday’s fifth-place bracket game, Stephenson showed how easy he can score when he wants to. Heeding his coach’s advice to save energy early, he didn’t score until 1:12 left in the first quarter. He missed four of his first five shots and didn’t have a field goal until 40 seconds remained in the period.

Stephenson hit nine of his next 15 attempts. He is averaging 29.7 points a game in the City of Palms — less than his 34 a game average this season.

Roman Catholic’s Maalik Wayns, Rivals.com’s fourth-best senior point guard who is committed to Villanova, scored 27 points to lead the Cahillites.

While Stephenson doesn’t mind the focus on his game, several incidents this year have taken the attention off the court. He was suspended from school for five days in January for fighting with a teammate. In October, Stephenson was arrested on sexual assault charges after a classmate accused him of grabbing her inappropriately at school.

Despite the misdemeanor charges, Morton said Stephenson has grown up this season and is putting his off-the-court issues behind him.

“He’s definitely maturing,” Morton said. “He’s learning how to respond to different situations.”

Growing up has helped him on the court. Known as a stellar offensive talent and not much else most his career, Stephenson said he’s worked on improving his defense.

In Monday’s game, Stephenson guided his team to victory even when he wasn’t scoring. His six assists tied for the game-high with teammate Darwin Ellis, and he also had five offensive rebounds and two steals.

“I played better defensively,” said Stephenson, who called Monday his best game of the tournament. “There are some tough teams here. We just have to play hard and get ready for when we go back (to New York).”

Ready ?

2008-12-28T09:54:00.001-08:00

Lance Stephenson is New York's next great hoops hope. But the standout guard from Brooklyn doesn't seem fazed by the weight of expectations.
NEW YORK -- Dawn along Coney Island Beach is when Lance Stephenson Jr. enjoys the remnants of solitude. His days are long. His time is in demand.

While slogging through the sand on Brooklyn's southernmost tip, Stephenson is alone in thought. He's focused on each step, on pushing closer to greatness. The morning run is when he envisions unleashing a killer crossover dribble, ponders where he might attend college next fall, or contemplates school assignments he needs to complete.

Chasing greatness begins at 5:30 a.m. on streets named Surf, Mermaid and Atlantic. After an intense hour workout, which includes pull-ups and dips on a jungle gym in a nearby playground, Stephenson heads down Ocean Parkway to school.

For the faint at heart, the rigorous daily regimen is just that; reflecting the work ethic needed to rise above the competition and atop the analyst's charts in the high school basketball Class of 2009.

The 6-foot-6-inch guard no longer needs introductions. In the grassroots basketball universe, Stephenson is sun, the moon and the star.

The sun: players revolve around him, feeding off his energy. He's the center of the prep hoop universe.
The moon: a cold, desolate place, but one that breeds the cool mannerisms and individual drive to conquer greatness.
The star: his is shining brighter than ever.

Stargazing is the norm when Stephenson takes the court; he is the fan favorite. He regularly drains Sharpies signing autographs, but it's his signature moves and cocksure attitude that attract basketball aficionados.

Stephenson, like neighborhood legends Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, was earmarked for greatness at an early age. Stephenson, dubbed "Sir Lancelot" or "Born Ready," has grasped the Brooklyn torch with flair.

On Friday, Stephenson and 23 of the nation's elite boys' high school basketball players will compete in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 (ESPNU, 8 p.m. ET), a unique, summer-ending all-star game at the famed outdoor court at Rucker Park in Harlem.

The event's third incarnation is a celebration of the outdoor game, popularized by urban street legends. Thirteen of the 24 chosen players are rising seniors, including Stephenson.

Stephenson is no stranger to the event, having played in last year's game.

"Crowds can be tough [at Rucker] but I'm used to it," Stephenson said. "Outdoor games are about up and down court and showmanship. People want you to show them what you have. It's pretty much the same at the Gardens in Coney Island."

That's where Stephenson, the latest Brooklyn prodigy to lace them up for Lincoln High, toils and resides. He's a few blocks from the amusement park, home of the renowned Cyclone Roller Coaster, Nathan's Hot Dog stand and the New York Aquarium.

Killer workout

The mist usually lifts from the shores of the Atlantic shortly after sunrise. By that time Stephenson and his father Lance Sr. or "Stretch" (a name derived from a six-inch summertime growth spurt as a teen) have completed the "killer" workout.

Running, pushups, pull-ups, proper stretching and jump shots comprise the daily routine. (Stephenson and his father complete it in an hour, allowing both to be on time for school and work.)

The workout is patterned after the one created for Telfair by his half-brother, Jamel Thomas. Stephenson began running the beach with Telfair when he was 12.

"At first, Sebastian just sprinted in the sand leaving me way behind," Stephenson said. "But to be the best that's what I needed to do."

Running in the sand gives athletes a tough workout in a short distance; in Stephenson's case the route lasts 22 blocks (approximately two miles) on the sand, followed by a return trip on the boardwalk.

The back and shoulders benefit greatly from running on sand, because balance is stressed. Quadriceps (four muscles in the front thigh) bulge. Fast and slow twitch fibers generate short bursts of speed and strength, giving the legs their spring. Training in the sand cushions the knees, saving on wear and tear of the joint and surrounding soft tissue.

"After running on sand when I run the boardwalk it's like running on air," Stephenson said, grinning.

After that it's off to the Surfside Houses, a 15-story housing project, where Stephenson runs five sets of stairs. Translation: He sprints 15 flights of stairs to the roof and back, equaling a set.

As if that wasn't enough, Stephenson interweaves 500 push-ups between runs.

No wonder Stephenson has packed on nearly 20 pounds since the end of the high school season in March. He now carries 225 pounds on his sleek frame.

His defined body would send Praxiteles, an ancient Greek sculptor, scurrying for a chisel and hammer.

Stretch Stephenson says the blue print for "the perfect basketball body" took form when he saw LeBron James at the ABCD Camp in 2001.

"That's the body type you need to absorb the punishment," Stretch said.

Dwayne "Tiny" Morton, Lincoln's coach said: "I've seen [Stephenson] play around the neighborhood this summer and he's bigger; more [muscle] definition. He's nearly unstoppable down low and his outside shot is going down; that's against experienced players. Imagine when he's back at Lincoln."

Summertime blues

Stephenson and his father remained tight this summer. Stretch coached Raising Champions, a club team featuring Lance and several New York prospects.

Lance toyed with the nation's top-rated point guards at the Nike Steve Nash Skills Academy in June in New Jersey, then he attended the LeBron James Skills Academy, where 80 of the country's top prep players congregated in Akron, Ohio.

[+] EnlargeAP Photo/ Joe Lippincott

Lance Stephenson is the latest in a long line of talented preps to play at Lincoln High.
Last weekend, he played in outdoor tournaments at Orchard Beach (City Island in the Bronx) and the famed West Fourth Street Court in Greenwich Village. Tuesday he competed in a Marbury-Telfair sponsored event at the Gardens, just five blocks from home.

Stephenson ended the summer as the No. 7 prospect in the ESPN 100 player rankings. The knock on Stephenson was not necessarily his shooting ability, it was when and where he takes his shots. So instead of shooting racks of balls, Stephenson needed to understand why his shot was off target.

Enter Jerry Powell of Basketball Results, who has trained Stephenson weekly for the past three years. Powell reprogrammed Stephenson, drilling him in ballhandling skills, shooting and flexibility.

When Stephenson began, Powell noted he was "too stiff."

"Lance, like many athletes, did not know how to properly warm up or stretch," Powell said. "If your muscles aren't warmed up properly, you'll lose range of motion. Stretching properly before and after a workout helps prevent injuries."

It also helped Stephenson to become in tune with his body.

"Lance knows if he misses a jumper what we needs to do next time," said Powell, who currently trains NBA players Ron Artest, Al Harrington, Jermaine O'Neal, Mike James, Rajon Rondo, Marko Jaric and Dahntay Jones.

"The key is to make the adjustment immediately."

Stephenson has worked tirelessly on his long-range jumper -- he knows pundits question his shot's consistency. Powell continuously articulates why the drills will work.

"There is no offseason; Lance can't take anything for granted," Powell said.

Stephenson hasn't, and neither have the Lincoln Railsplitters. Last season, Lincoln (29-4), No. 11 in the ESPN HIGH Elite 25 final rankings, captured a sixth New York PSAL AA city championship in seven years (and third straight) and a second consecutive New York State Federation title.

Before he closes out his illustrious prep career, Stephenson will choose a college. He won't tip his hand but hinted programs such as Memphis, Kansas, Texas, St. John's and Southern California are in the mix.

Two decades ago, St. John's might have been a no-brainer for a Brooklyn kid (see Chris Mullin or Mark Jackson). Despite the Red Storm's recent struggles, Stephenson is intrigued.

"I'm looking at them hard," Stephenson said. "It would be great to bring back New York and rebuild one of the great programs. It's close to home; my family could see me play, but I'm interested also in seeing new places and going away."

College will likely last only one year before Stephenson declares for the NBA draft in 2010.

Stephenson, though, won't fast-forward his upcoming senior season. Lincoln will make three appearances on ESPN as part of a tortuous national schedule with stops in Oklahoma, New Jersey and Florida.

"You put together a schedule like this to test your players," Morton said. "The nation will see what we see every day."

That's Stephenson at his best

Lebron Dunks from thr foul line !!!!!!!!

2008-11-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

Charged ??

2008-11-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

Lincoln High School hoops phenom Lance Stephenson charged with school grope
BY D. BLOCK DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Noonan for News
Lance Stephenson
A highly recruited high school hoops star from Brooklyn was arrested earlier this month for sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl inside the school, police said.
Lance Stephenson, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard from Abraham Lincoln High School, the former school of NBA players Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, has been charged with a Class B misdemeanor

Show Time For Born Ready !

2008-10-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

Time for Lincoln phenom Lance Stephenson to come of age
BY M. LELINWALLA

Saturday, August 30th 2008, 2:05 PM

Pace for News

Lance Stephenson is in his final year at Lincoln with attitude adjustments to make and major decisions ahead of him.

Goldfield for News

Stephenson guards Dominic Cheek in Elite 24 game at legendary Rucker Park earlier this month.
Hobbled by a pulled groin, Lance Stephenson took one look at the overflowing crowd at the fabled Rucker Park at 155th St. and Park Ave. and made a game-time decision: He wanted to play.

A few seconds later, Dominic Cheek of St. Anthony in Jersey City dribbled down the court and banked in a long three-pointer right in Stephenson's face.

The crowd roared, and Stephenson - the latest New York city schoolboy phenom from Lincoln High - snapped, a scowl written across his face.

Stephenson, the king of New York's high school basketball scene and one of the nation's top recruits in the Class of 2009, immediately demanded the ball from a teammate and called for a 1-on-1 clear-out possession against Cheek.

The Rucker crowd rose to its feet and belted out its traditional, "Yeeeeeaaaaahhhh" mantra, egging on the 17-year-old kid from Coney Island it calls "Born Ready."

The chiseled 6-5, 200-pound Stephenson crossed Cheek over twice, spun in the lane and hit a layup while getting fouled. He pumped his fist and screamed, sending the crowd into hysteria loud enough to awake the tenants in the Polo Grounds Apartments across the street.

For good measure, his father, Lance Stephenson Sr., held up a "10" scorecard that had been handed out during the dunk contest before the third annual "Elite 24," which invites two dozen of the country's best high school hoops stars for a fast break fireworks display - streetball style.

And in that instant, Stephenson was back where he belonged - dominating the game and turning yet another crowd into putty in his hands. Once again, he was The Man.

That Aug. 22 moment served as redemption for the most unusual summer of Stephenson's life, a summer in which he had to learn that you can't always be the man.

On July 9, Stephenson was cut from the U.S. under-18 national team, with reverberations of the news setting off questions about the Lincoln star throughout the country.

Why was he cut?

"Lance is a tremendous basketball player," U.S. coach Bob McKillop told the Daily News at the time of the cut. "The question is what was happening with those other four guys on the court, when Lance is on the court? Five percent of the game is played with the ball in your hands. The other 95% is played without the ball in your hands. Lance had to work on that. We try to implement the team concept of passing more than dribbling. That was something other players got better and better at. It was a very difficult decision."

Stephenson was shocked.

"When I got cut, I was just told I wasn't what they were looking for, I wasn't a good fit," Stephenson says. "But to find out that they thought I'm a selfish player . . . I don't think I'm a selfish player. I don't think I have to score to win the game. I think I worked hard. I tried my best to make the team. I think I wasn't (McKillop's) fit. I take it as a learning experience and try to get better."

Class 2009

2008-10-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

Forward Class of 2009

Next Post View Blog Posts

High School: Abraham Lincoln HS

Notable Alumni: Sebastian Telfair

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Height: 6-5

Weight: 205

PPG: 19.5

Position: Small Forward

Ranking: #1 Small Forward, Class of 2009

AAU Team: Juice All-Stars

Schools: Indiana, Louisville, Memphis, Arizona, North Carolina, UCLA, West Virginia, Texas, Duke

Lance Stephenson is a powerful small forward that uses his strength and athleticism to conquer opponents. He continues to work on his jump shot and ball handling skills, an area that needs to improve for him to remain a top prospect.

Lance Stephenson Story in Sports Illustrated

The 17-year-old guard had just scored 35 points to lead Lincoln (Coney Island, N.Y.) to a 75-68 win over New York City rival Rice in the Primetime Shootout's made-for-TV matchup. As he made his way off the court, he stopped to catch his breath and answered questions from a member of a crew filming a documentary entitled Born Ready, which is chronicling his junior season on and off the court. Then, after a quick post-game talk in the locker room, Stephenson and Lincoln coach Dwayne "Tiny" Morton, emerged from the arena's inner bowels for an on-court interview with ESPNU. "I love the cameras," Stephenson said. "They help me get exposure and the recruiters can watch me on TV."

Lance Stephenson Highlight Videos on Streetball

Find more videos of Lance Stephenson on Streetball.com - Basketball Videos, News, Streetball Moves and Prep Stars

Lance Stephenson News

The hype surrounding Lincoln's Lance Stephenson is so big that as a junior in high school he already has his own reality show.
So far tonight against New York City rival Rice, Stephenson has brought game worthy of the lights and cameras. It probably doesn't hurt that the game is
being telecast nationally on ESPN U therefore helping to add to the ever-growing Lance lore.

On his first attempt of the night, Stephenson drilled a jumper from about 32 feet out and hasn't stopped since.

Stephenson hit 6 of 8 shots in the first quarter and by the end of the third frame, the No. 1 ranked small forward in the country by Streetball.com has 29 points and has pulled down eight boards.

The Web series documentary was released on the Internet at Bornready.tv. Packaged as an episodic real-time look at Stephenson, 11 chapters have already been released and a new 3-5-minute segment comes out each Tuesday. "I think no one had seen me laugh before," said Stephenson, who is working with a Lincoln teacher on his one-on-one interview skills. "It's showing me in a different light."

Why is Lance born Ready ??

2008-10-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Lance Stephenson At The Rucker Park ( 2008 Boost Mobile Elite 24 )

2008-09-19T09:14:00.001-07:00

Born Ready ??

2008-09-19T09:14:00.000-07:00