Despite much hype that Lance Stephenson would visit Kansas this weekend for the Jayhawk Invitational, it turns out that Born Ready opted not to play in the event.
The 6-5 Stephenson was to play with Derrick Favors and the Atlanta Celtics in the event at Kansas University, and then spend an extra day visiting the campus.
The Celtics are a storied travel franchise that at one time featured Dwight Howard, Josh Smith and Randolph Morris.
Stephenson is being recruited by numerous major D-1 programs, including USC, UCLA, Memphis, North Carolina, Georgetown, Indiana, Arkansas, Seton Hall and Louisville. He has already visited Indiana, USC, Louisville and Seton Hall, and plans to schedule various college trips around tournaments in those areas.
Lance “Stretch” Stephenson told me he and his son could make a decision by September.
“I would say by late September, or just before the season starts,” he said. “Hopefully he has everything straight by the time the season started.”
In Stephenson’s absence, Ryan Greene of the Lawrence Journal World tells us that Rodney Willams, a 6-5 guard from Howard Pulley (Minn.), put on a show in a victory over Stephan Van Treese and Indiana Elite One, tallying 23 points, 4 assists, 3 boards and 3 blocks. Here is some video of Williams’ performance courtesy KUsports.com.
The 6-9 Van Treese of Indianapolis Lawrence North, the alma mater of Greg Oden and Mike Conley, told Greene his top six schools are Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, Louisville, Florida and Ohio State.