MIAMI, Fla. – Being Lance Stephenson would be a glorious thing. He’s built like a Greek God, only taller. Hollywood handsome. And he’s as talented as he is beautiful.
Lance Stephenson is a play maker.
Photo by Kevin Yen
The chiseled and soft spoken 6-foot-6, 220-pound senior guard from Lincoln High in Brooklyn, N.Y. could be cast as a young Michael Jordan on the big screen.
And considering he’s the New York career scoring king and the main attraction at the 32nd Annual McDonald’s All-American game he might not just be a fill-in.
The orange rim is his world and right now he’s peaking over the top after a slam dunk high school career and weighing his many worldly options.
But after witnessing Stephenson answering a herd of reporters – king Buffalo myself included – at Tuesday’s Media Day, I got a hint that all isn’t so glorious in the world of Lance.
Stephenson was supposed to tell all about his college plans – the big drum roll between St. John’s, Kansas and Maryland – but instead he threw a no-look pass.
He didn’t have an answer – he actually needs more time to decide.
“I wanted to get it over with but it’s a tough decision and I want to make the best decision I can possibly make,” said Stevenson, who averaged 28.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season.
And with that, a machine gun full of queries followed.
Stephenson during Tuesday's press conference.
Photo courtesy of McDonald
Are your grades at issue? Is another school in the mix? Are you going to Europe? Is this all weighing on you?
Stevenson stood tall and deflected the bullets like Superman, feeding the frenzy with just enough information.
No, no, no and no, he said.
The only one I questioned was the latter. Never met the young buck, but he looked stressed to me, as did his parents.
“Picking your college choice is a lot of pressure,” East teammate and Louisville-signee Peyton Siva said. “You’re going to spend the next chunk of your life there. It’s a huge commitment and everyone wants to know what you’re thinking, especially if you’re a top-ranked guy like Lance.
Siva (3) is Stephenson fan.
Photo by Jeff Faddis
“I’ll give it up to him though. He’s handled it really well.”
Siva, a 6-foot point guard from Franklin (Seattle, Wash), has got to know Stevenson at summer skill camps and showcases.
“Lance is as tough as they come,” Siva said. “He’ll handle it all (the media attention) real well.”
But judging from Tuesday’s showing, his handles aren’t yet polished. Not like those he displays on the court.
While the rest of the room and 47 other top senior male and female players from throughout the land were yucking it up with the press and teammates, Stephenson had a foot out the door, looking like he couldn’t wait for the hot glare of the TV lights, the microphones, the questions, the herding, all to melt away.
“I’ve done a lot of interviews the last few days and I enjoy it, but it’s also draining,” East co-head coach Mark Lieberman said. “Now you’re talking about a young man having to deal with the scrutiny and people asking about his experiences and what he’s going to do and what is factoring in his decisions. And he has to be on. - all the time. It’s got to be tough on Lance.
“Then again, it’s also the nature of the beast.”
Indeed, it’s nothing celebrities, future or otherwise, haven’t faced before: The loss of privacy; The constant scrutiny; The ball and chain of expectation.
Stephenson during Tuesday scrimmage.
Photo courtesy of McDonald
Stephenson’s dad Lance Sr. took 20 minutes of hard questions himself. Like his son, he never flinched or wavered. He admitted that the family is waiting to see if the star players at those three schools leave early for the pros. That could effect his decision.
“We’re waiting to make sure he’s at a secured environment and be at a place where he can learn and grow,” he said. “A place he can work on his game as well as his education. Those will be the deciding factors. But on his terms.”
The younger Stephenson ducked out of the room until most of the herd had left. He joined his East teammates and quickly mixed into the teen-age fray, laughing, rapping and telling stories.
“I’m sure he’d love to just get back to the hotel and play video games and enjoy himself and teammates and all the experiences that the McDonald’s games offer,” Lieberman said.
Said Siva: “He’s tough for sure, but he’s still just a kid.”
Senior writer Mitch Stephens and correspondent James Oyola are covering the 2009 McDonalds All-American game. See more features, notebooks, video, pictures and game stories throughout the week.
