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)
njhoop / June 23, 2009
What exactly is he waiting for? Go to memphis! Does he really have any other options at this point? What a train wreck his recruitment has been!
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blasphemy / June 23, 2009
(Not a facetious comment)
It might not be what he is waiting for as much as what the coaches are waiting for, lol. I think he may well go to europe. Just my opinion (kinda worthless really). Who knows though? It really couldn’t get much weirder of a recruitment process…… knock on wood….. lol.
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pastaboy / June 23, 2009
He’s waiting for his court date on 6/29 ……if the case is dismissed or resolved favorably there will be a half dozen team suddenly interested again .
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Terrapins92 / June 23, 2009
“[Isiah] Thomas doesn’t want to take on baggage from day one, and every coach that has been sniffing around the Stephenson camp contends there could be an NCAA investigation into him as soon as he commits.” — Andy Katz
That’s a pretty pointed statement: “every coach… contends there could be an investigation.” He makes it sound as though he has talked to each coach or someone close to them, including Pastner.
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UAWildcat / June 24, 2009
For once you are correct.
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USC.trojan / June 24, 2009
AZ,
What’s the story with LAMB?
He was NOT the primary recruit for UK.
UK top recruit went to Memphis -the Barton’s.
Still LMAO about how UK lost Barton to Memphis , of all schools.
Can you confirm that LAMB has his TOP schools as : Arizona , UK and big east school.
Also hearing that Lamb will visit Arizona as well.
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bball purist / June 24, 2009
The NCAA bloodhounds are howling. Must want to sample some Memphis Ribs. The NCAA will tear their pound of flesh, even with their dullened teeth these past 15 years.
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PKelly / June 24, 2009
Almost all of these reports are speculation….or “sources”, with the exception of FIU it seems. Has any other coach or staff member been quoted as saying their squads were set for the upcoming year and that they are NOT bringing in another scholly player? I know no one from the Maryland staff has said that. Yet everyone seems to be running with a purley speculative piece from the Baltimoresun.com’s Jeff Barker …..you read correctly……”Baltimoresun.COM “. As if the liberal rag Sun Paper was so good it needs to be available 24/7 and world-wide. I ask, has anyone even HEARD of this guy? Maybe not…but guess what? He has “Sources”! The Bal’moresun.com piece states that two “sources” (impressive, huh?!) told him that Lance was “no longer being recruited”. Not that Maryland was not bringing anyone else in. No longer recruited. Big difference. Not to mention the source(s) could be anyone….perhaps the kids who cut Gary’s grass.
I ask you Zag. Is it not possible to reach someone IN the Lance camp and ask them where the recruitment stands these days in regards to potential college choices? Why has no one done this? For that you’d get props for having the balls to track down REAL info/news on this train wreck…….
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lanceisahawk / June 24, 2009
No political shots on a sports blog please. And if you really want information then please look for the qoute where your coach said…………
We are done recruiting. I believe it was on a baltimore station.
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bball purist / June 24, 2009
pkel,
I already asked Barker last week and he confirmed he has a source he spoke with. He’s accessible – he will get back to you if you respond to his pieces. Or just e-mail him – he seems like a responsible reporter. Even reporters with blogs like Zags only use reliable sources if they can. Some are more responsible (professional) than others.
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fubar / June 24, 2009
this has very little to do with the court case…it is almost all about eligibility. josh is not dumb enough to take him, especially with the situation cal left him with and a potential for an investigation…
my call on williams is az, hands down. friendship with solomon hill and being closer to home trump. even though az is on the ‘skids’…transition, perhaps….skids?! idiot.
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bball purist / June 24, 2009
pkelly, here’s a comment Jeff Barker responded to last week – it says it all – it’s better for all schools no longer involved to move on – there is trouble on the horizon – GW will stay away from it like the plague – our program got clubbed by the NCAA 20 years ago – never again – it’s not worth it.
“Jeff, does this mean we’ve rescinded the scholarship offer and the door to UMD is closed or have our coaches simply decided to expend no more effort in his recruitment?
——FROM JEFF—-
One key source said flatly that Stephenson won’t be coming to Maryland. Could this change? I guess anything is possible but the statement was made without any equivocating. Other papers trying to confirm the story have heard much the same thing. Hope that helps.”
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bball purist / June 24, 2009
20 years ago – when the NCAA actually used to beat on schools way way worse than they even think about now. What Kelvin Sampson did at OU and IU was way worse than what Bob Wade did…
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PKelly / June 24, 2009
“We are done recruiting” does not mean “we are not bringing in a 5-star if the opportunity presents itself”. Spin city, baby……always leave that door open.
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bball purist / June 24, 2009
Wearing Rose colored glasses is an understatement, Don Quiote Kelly…
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bball purist / June 24, 2009
Yes, Quixote, for all you sorry nitpickers…
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