Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Lance Stephenson says he’s already chosen his college, and at this point all signs indicate he’ll end up at Kansas.
Based on numerous interviews, Stephenson’s comments in recent days and the history of his recruitment, it’s a safe bet that he ends up in a Jayhawk uniform next season.
Lance says it was between Kansas, Maryland and St. John’s, but several sources said Maryland is not in the picture and one source very close to the decision-making process said Kansas is a heavy favorite.
“He really wants to play for Bill Self,” a separate source close to Stephenson told Zach Smart of the NBE Basketball Report.
“They went pretty hard, he had a great visit, and they essentially sent [former NBA player] Danny Manning as the Mariano Rivera in this situation to close the deal.”
The source added: “Lance understood the magnitude of this decision. He flirted with the idea of revitalizing the St. John’s program and sort of sprouting into a New York City icon by putting SJU and New York City back on the map. But realistically, he wants to win at a big-time program and Kansas is a perfect fit for him.”
Marquette senior guard Dominic James, who suffered a broken fifth metatarsal on his left foot on Feb. 25, was cleared to return to the court Saturday evening after undergoing an extensive evaluation process over the course of the last week.
No. 6 Marquette is set to face No. 3 Missouri in the West Regional Sunday in Boise, Idaho.
“I don’t know how much he’ll be able to contribute,” head coach Buzz Williams said. “The thing that I’m excited about is we’re going to give him an opportunity to close out his career in the best way he possibly could. And I think the recovery has been due in large part to his work, but also because of the wisdom of Ernest (Eugene) and Dr. (Darrin) Maccoux.
Call it a four-peat for Lance Stephenson and Lincoln.
Stephenson had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five steals to lead the Railsplitters to a 78-56 victory over Kennedy in the PSAL AA championship game at Madison Square Garden. Maryland-bound power forward James Padgett added 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Lincoln became the first team ever to win four PSAL crowns in a row.
“It’s so much hard work to do this,” Stephenson told The New York Times. “For the next kids, it’s going to be real tough. I don’t think nobody will ever do that again.”
John Wall told his local newspaper that Memphis is at the top of his college list, but he won’t announce until April 18 or later.
“Memphis is my leader, but I’m still considering the same other schools. I’ve liked Memphis since last year. I like its playing style. I like the way the coach [John Calipari] gets players to develop,” the 6-foot-4 Wall told the Raleigh News & Observer.
Wall, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals, has visited Kansas, Memphis and Baylor, but is also considering Duke and N.C. State.
St. Patrick will shoot for its third New Jersey Tournament of Champions title in four years Monday night against Newark Science.
The Celtics won the crown in 2006 and ’07 behind point guard Corey Fisher, now at Villanova, and forward Jeff Robinson, now at Seton Hall. St. Patrick is seeking its fifth TOC crown.
Newark Science lost to St. Anthony in last year’s final. The teams will meet at the Izod Center at 8 p.m. Monday.
Despite the fact that George Mason-bound forward Paris Bennett sustained a broken nose after a collision with a teammate, the Celtics advanced to the final with a 66-40 victory Friday over Group 4 champ Lenape.
Newark Science downed Immaculata 54-49 in the other semifinal.
The Big East Conference made history before the NCAA Tournament began when it received three No. 1 seeds in Louisville, Pittsburgh and UConn.
