Our boys over at Rock M posted a link yesterday about Lincoln High School phenom Lance Stephenson being at least somewhat interested in Mizzou. This isn't huge news considering other schools like kU, Maryland, Pitt and possibly Memphis and Arizona are also in the running for him. The odds seem to be against the Tigers landing this wunderkind.
But it's noteworthy that Mike Anderson and his staff are at least generating some buzz and making other schools work to keep players away from MU. Stephenson is known as a player cut from the same mold as Michael Beasley and OJ Mayo; me-first players with no intention of staying in college more than one year.
The debate over at Rock M is whether or not it's worth adding a guy like this to the roster. The argument might be insignificant for the time being since Stephenson in all likelihood will not be coming to Mizzou, but eventually you have to believe that HCMA is going to land a player of this caliber and a player like this is certainly capable of messing with the chemistry that was the biggest strength of the team last year.
Obviously, Mike Anderson and the rest of the coaching staff are more qualified to make this kind of decision. They have to decide whether or not the kid is capable of putting his own self interests aside for a season like Rick Barnes was able to convince Kevin Durant to do. (Durant might not be the best example because even though he was a gunner he was a very unselfish player and in my opinion stands alone from the other one year players we've seen since the age limit was implemented.) If so then you obviously take the kid even if he does only stay one year.
As for Stephenson, I think he would be a perfect fit on next year's team. For one thing he would give the Tigers a player that could probably consistently create his own shot. That's something the Tigers were in need of last year and will need even more this season. And even if Stephenson came in with a terrible attitude I don't think it would be possible for him to infect the locker room. There are too many guys on the roster that have already completely bought in to what Mike Anderson has been preaching. Stephenson wouldn't just be battling Anderson, he'd be battling the entire team. And in that case CMA could bench the kid with very few repercussions and that would hurt the kid's draft stock. He would feel an intense amount of pressure from the coaches, players and fans to conform.
This is the kind of guy that Quin Snyder would have probably been able to land but then he'd never be able to convince him to buy into the team concept. Since Mike Anderson already has that foundation in place I say go for it if you've got the chance. Kid's a special talent. Plus he's from the same high school that produced Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair. That's instant street cred.
Update @3:11: Nevermind. Stephenson committed to Cincy as was pretty much expected.
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if Rock M is right and he's interested, then you have a very real shot at getting him as KU, Maryland, St Johns, etc... all keep pulling their offers due to outside concerns.
If memory serves, I believe he was due in court this week on some charges against a 17 year old lass.
I did hear though that he may ink with Cincy as soon as today.
I think this Tiger team and HCMA could handle any attitude that comes to town. HOWEVER, I think the the NCAA issues that this kid brings with him are far more damning.
First of all, the kid's dad is a lot crazy. There are rumors that the family has been dealing with an agent and that they may have received compensation for a reality series that Stephenson was involved in. I'd rather not go down that road so close to the Quin BS.
Check out this article from last week.
There's definitely some red flags associated with this guy. But again, that's stuff CMA has to make a judgment on. You would think he would know to stay away from the kid if he thought there was any chance of some violations down the road. The wounds from the Quin era are still too fresh to be taking that kind of risk.
But if he really believed that the other stuff was being blown out of proportion and that there was minimal risk of violations by adding Stephenson then you have to go for it. This kid would be the most electrifying player to put on a Tiger uni since Anthony Peeler.
@Hophop: I've read that Cincy is the frontrunner too. That's where he'll probably end up.
The Bryce Brown of basketball.
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