Lance Stephenson took an official visit to Maryland Saturday night for the team’s 73-68 victory over Miami.
The 6-foot-5 Stephenson, listed as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2009 by the Hoop Scoop, sat front row and was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from fans who urged him to come to Maryland, according to reports.
Stephenson has listed St. John’s, Kansas, Memphis and USC as his top options, but Memphis is not actively recruiting him.
“I’m worrying about these schools right now and I’m still looking at it,” Stephenson, averaging 32 points and 12 rebounds, said recently.
Stephenson’s Lincoln High School teammate, 6-foot-8 senior forward James Padgett, committed to Maryland in September.
It’s unclear if Stephenson has added Maryland to his list, but apparently he’s checking it out. Maryland coach Gary Williams is under pressure because his team has struggled this year, and landing Stephenson would be seen as a step in the right direction by some, a quick-fix by others.
Stephenson also said he’s taken the SAT and is fully qualified.
“I’m qualified,” he said.
Stephenson said he would visit the schools in the spring and then talk it over.
“There’s going to be a family talk,” he said.
Stephenson and the Railsplitters have a pair of big PSAL games this week. On Tuesday, they visit Fordham-bound forward Joel “Air Jamaica” Wright and Thomas Jefferson. Two days later, Lincoln hosts Boys & Girls.
Both Jefferson and Boys & Girls have their sights set on dethroning three-time PSAL champ Lincoln in March.
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In other NYC recruiting news, Thomas Jefferson sophomore point guard Davontay Grace has picked up offers from Marquette and Villanova, according to his AAU coach. Grace also holds offers from St. John’s, Hofstra, Rutgers, Kansas State and South Carolina.
