LANCE STEPHENSON: ‘I CAN BRING NEW YORK BACK’
Alex Schwartz recently caught up with Lincoln High School star Lance Stephenson, one of the top prospects in the nation in the class of 2009 and got some of his thoughts on his recruitment, his game and his one admitted weakness, his attitude.
Under the bright lights as New York City’s ‘next one’ for several years, everything has not been easy for the uber-talented 6′6 basketball prodigy. Just this past weekend, Stephenson and his Raising Champions teammates were humbled in the Rumble in the Bronx as they did not win a single game. Scenes of his father, Lance Stephenson Sr., the coach of the Raising Champions, giving his son an earful during timeouts and after games was a common scene as the younger Lance spent much of the time looking very frustrated with officials, teammates and himself.
Schwartz asked Stephenson what he felt was his weakness on the court. The young star seems to understand that the attitude could be something that holds him back. “I don’t think I have one (weakness),” Stephenson stated. But, then he added, “Right now, it’s my attitude, that’s it, but I can change that.”
When Schwartz asked how he can work on it, Lance responded, “Just relax, but sometimes it doesn’t go my way and I get real upset. . . . I’m trying to work on it now.”
When Stephenson is relaxed he shows the special talent that he is. He led Lincoln to their third straight NYC PSAL championship as well as a New York State Class AA Federation title where he was the tournament MVP. It was back-to-back titles for the Railsplitters in Glens Falls.
Now, Stephenson is also thinking about the next step: college. Maybe a few years ago he would have been a prime candidate to go straight to the ‘league’. However, the NBA will have to wait for at least one season as the rules are different now. Seeing the OJ Mayo situation unfold, Stephenson knows there could be obstacles ahead. “I think that it’s real messed up, somebody did the wrong thing around him and I don’t think that should have happened, but . . . I don’t think I’m going to be in his league,” Stephenson said of the controversy surrounding Mayo and his brief college career. “I’m just focused on school and basketball right now.”
When asked for the schools he is considering, Stephenson told Schwartz earlier this evening ”USC, St. John’s, Kansas, UCLA, and Tennessee.” He recently took a visit to Queens to chat with Redstorm coach Norm Roberts and see the situation with the Johnnies. “Oh yeah, I was really looking at St. John’s, Stephenson commented. “I think I can bring New York back [to prominence], so I’m really looking at that right now.”
But, before St. John’s fans get too excited, the process is not nearly over yet. “I don’t have a leader right now,” Stephenson cautioned.
Even schools like North Carolina, Kentucky, Memphis and Indiana are not ready to be ruled out according to Lance, “I’m still looking at the schools, but I’m more focused on the other [first five] schools, then I’m going to focus on the others.”
For now, Lance will take a look at the situations and his relationship with the head coach. Schwartz asked him what would be the main factor in choosing a school and Stephenson replied, “[A] good place surrounding and a good coach.”
The world will continue to watch and wait with Lance Stephenson. They have been watching for years, the wait for his college decision will continue.
For more detail as Alex Schwartz also details a conversation from Saturday and a chat this evening with the star, see Alex’s blog post, Lance Stephenson - Where is He Headed?