Could Lance Stephenson be on the verge of signing with the University of Cincinnati?
One source says the 6-foot-5 Stephenson — the all-time leading scorer in New York State history — could commit to the Bearcats as early as Tuesday.
On Monday Stephenson heads to Brooklyn Criminal Court for his sexual assault case, which could be adjourned for a second time in two months.
“Word is Lance is signing with Cincinnati,” one Big East assistant coach said. “I think he will on Tuesday from what I’m being told.”
Lance Stephenson Sr. said his son was still going through the recruiting process.
“We are going through the process of picking a school,” he wrote in a text. “Things are going well with the schools we are talking to. We look forward to announcing in the weeks to come.”
Lance Jr. and several family members took an official visit to the Cincinnati campus from Friday-Sunday and Lance played pickup with the team on Saturday.
“He got here [Friday],” said a player on the team. “We just got through playing open gym. [He played] with the whole team and a couple old players.
“He was doing good. I guarded him. He played good. We could use him. If we get him we’ll be good.”
Lance has visited Kansas, Maryland and St. John’s and Lance Stephenson Sr. recently said his son would take two more.
Memphis and Arizona may still be involved, but no visits have been set, as far as we know.
Other potential schools in the mix include Missouri, Pittsburgh and UNC-Charlotte, according to a source.
Cincinnati returns a solid core including guards Deonta Vaughn and Rashad Bishop and forward Yancy Gates. Point guard Cashmere Wright also becomes eligible this year after sitting out last season with an injury. The Bearcats are bringing in big man Ibrahima Thomas and guards Sean Kilpatrick and Jaquon Parker. Kilpatrick is a White Plains, N.Y. native.
Stay tuned for more later…