His nickname is "Born Ready."
But late last June, the question became which school was ready to take the natural-born talent - and potential baggage - of Lance Stephenson, the all-time leading scorer in New York state high school basketball history.
Just a few months before the start of fall classes, Stephenson, one of the most highly touted prospects in the class of 2009, didn't have a home. But finally, after a tumultuous recruiting saga, Stephenson found one in a surprising place - Cincinnati.
"I felt like this is a family," Stephenson said. "And I felt like this could make me a better player."
Now under the radar compared to the attention he received in high school, Stephenson is the Bearcats' leading scorer and ranks second on the team in rebounds, assists and steals. He and Cincinnati (14-7, 5-4 Big East) host No. 3 Syracuse (22-1, 9-1 Big East) at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fifth Third Arena.
Pegged as the next big-time New York City guard before he even put on a jersey at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, Stephenson lived up to much of the hype on the court. Besides setting the state scoring record with 2,946 points, he helped lead his Railsplitters to an unprecedented four straight Public School Athletic League AA Division titles, as well as two Federation tournament championships.
But Stephenson's time in the bright lights of the Big Apple wasn't always positive.
As a junior, he was suspended from school for a week due to fighting. Then, in October 2008, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard was arrested for allegedly groping a 17-year-old girl. Stephenson later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and, in July 2009, was sentenced to community service.
"I think people got the wrong impression of me," said Stephenson, the father of a 2-year old daughter. "They think that I'm a headcase, but that's just motivation to play harder and win games."
If those incidents weren't enough to raise a red flag for some college coaches, there were also concerns about his NCAA eligibility.
A reality Internet video series entitled "Born Ready" chronicled Stephenson's life on and off the court during his junior year. And while taking an official visit to Maryland, Stephenson and his parents visited the headquarters of Under Armour, whose CEO is a Terrapins booster.
Stephenson's arrival to any campus appeared to be an investigation waiting to happen.
But still, Stephenson, a former McDonald's All-American, was coveted.
In addition to Maryland, Stephenson made official visits to nearby St. John's and Kansas in his senior year. Several sources predicted he would announce a commitment to the Jayhawks after the McDonald's All-American game March 31.
The picture got cloudy, however, when Stephenson decided to delay his decision after current Kansas guard Xavier Henry was released from his signing with Memphis after head coach John Calipari's departure. A few weeks later, Henry inked with Kansas, filling its last available scholarship.
By May, where Stephenson would end up became anything but sure.
Enter Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin and assistant Tony Stubblefield. The Bearcats' coaches came into the Born Ready sweepstakes late but remained persistent. The Stephensons took a trip to Ohio in late June, and Lance committed June 30.
"He picked the right school that fit him," said Dwayne "Tiny" Morton, Stephenson's head coach at Lincoln.
"It's a big-time school. A lot of these guys get caught up on what school to go to. It's a big-time school, and he can get prime coverage playing big-time basketball. I'm happy for him."
Though not having as big of an influence as some freshmen around the country, Stephenson's presence has been a big boost for Cincinnati - a school that hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2005.
He was voted preseason Big East Rookie of the Year even before being declared eligible by the NCAA Nov. 5, just in time for the Bearcats' first exhibition game.
And once on the floor, Stephenson, whose ultra-competiveness has never been questioned, set out to prove the doubters wrong.
"(The negative press) motivated me to work harder and be a better player," he said.
So far this season, the kid who got his nickname dominating the courts of Rucker Park has matured being away from home. In the fall semester, he achieved a 3.5 GPA - significantly higher than he ever had in high school, he said.
The two-time Big East Rookie of the Week is averaging a team-high 12.2 points per game, though it's far cry from the 28.9 he averaged last year at Lincoln.
"It's better," Stephenson said of playing on a team with other double-figure scorers such as teammates Yancy Gates and Deonta Vaughn, "because I'm playing with players who can shoot like me and make open shots, so it makes it easier for me."
The highlight of Stephenson's season so far came in his first Big East game versus Connecticut. With 0.7 seconds remaining and the score tied at 69, he was fouled and made both free throws for the win. Stephenson scored 21 in that game. His season-high 22 came in an overtime loss to Xavier.
"I've talked to Lance about not trying to live up to other peoples' expectations," Cronin said in last Thursday's Big East coaches' teleconference. "Define what a good basketball player is for yourself. He's struggled shooting the ball from the perimeter at times. He's worked hard on it. Learning to play off the ball is something he's worked hard on.
"You can't compare him to people like John Wall or Michael Beasley. You can't live up to the ridiculous expectations other people set for you."
For now, Stephenson ignores the draft experts who peg him as another one-and-done freshman. Though he's believed to be a late-round selection, he says he just wants to focus on the next game.
If Stephenson's decision to go pro is anything like his one to choose a college, though, it's sure to generate headlines. But for the Coney Island sensation, there's no lamenting the past.
"No," Stephenson said. "I would not change nothing. I have no regrets."
jgnolan@syr.edu
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