The fact that this "recruit" is more worried about what shoe he will be wearing as opposed to his team and teamates and the contribution to the school shows what type of player he will be. Selfish......we don't need this one and done hyped up "player"

This SI article really makes him sound like a real "character" kid. good luck in Kansas!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/03/27/lance.stephenson/

Seems if the NCAA really wanted to look into something "sneaker deals" with high school kids would be a good starting place. Call it whatever you want, that's what it is. Better start looking for off shore accounts in Belize.

My gut reaction to this is that Stephenson is delaying because of the uncertainty about the sMy gut reaction to this is that Stephenson is delaying because of the uncertainty about the scholarship situation of the school he wants to attend. From "inside sources", that would seem to be Kansas, but it could apply to Maryland as well. I never understood why Stephenson had to set a date to announce his intentions, when this had potential to put either school in an awkward situation. I'm just tired of hearing all the speculation about it.

Re: the shoe issue and questions about his character, that isn't really very significant in this, IMO. He's going to come to MD or he isn't. If he does come, it won't be tainted (you can bet GW wouldn't allow that), he'll be here for one season, probably help us make a solid postseason run, and maybe give our recruiting efforts some momentum. Then he'll leave and make us wonder what we could've done with one more year from him (see: Steve Francis). Worst case scenario is that he's a JJ Hickson type who puts up big numbers but doesnt make his teammates better (though I doubt it). Either way, he's gone after one season, so his impact plus or minus would be limited by that.

If he doesn't come here, we'll probably end up with Terrell Vinson, who won't immediately push us into Final Four contention but will give us a solid four years. At this point I don't care that much any more, I just hope the scholarship situations become clearer soon, and this whole circus comes to an end. Mr. Dupree, your Loyola/Towson/UMBC scholarship is ready for you now.

I don't understand MD fans these days. You either want Gary to go after the top echelon, one-and-done type of player, who will undoubtedly come with baggage, but you also want him to produce with lower-tier, character-oriented prospects. You can't have it both ways. The type of character kid you may want probably isn't going to come in the form of a Top 10 national prospect.

Let's just tell him MD doesnt need him...and go get the other kid

he sounds like a T.O. of high school basketball

Apparently he wasn't paying much attention when he came down to umd for his visit. The players wear whatever nike shoe they want. They all wore different shoes, and none of them were made by under armour.

His father sounds pretty classy; "The Under Armour shoe sucks." The acorn does not fall far from the tree. I'm sure if there was a big signing bonus for his kid to wear the shoe he would be all smiles. Give up on this clown and move onto someone who want to be a Terp! He is perfect for Bill Self. Or is it Selfish Bill? Go to a team that is recruiting 3 higly acclaimed guards and see how much love you get.

VINSON, SMITH, BARTON, BUIE, AND A FUTURE PG TO BE NAMED LATER...

WE WANT YOU!!!

GW needs to take a play from the lefthander and paint "this is Lance Stephensons House" on the outside roof of Comcast. Then fly over it in a helicopter.

I remember when it was reported that Lefty did that with Danny Ferry. That was fun. Yea, Ferry still went to Duke, but nice move.

Chuckie, cmon, borrow something from Dad's playbook, get GW over the edge, be his mulligan.

Rob,

The shoe sucks make Lance Stephenson a bad kid. I Forgot Hopefully the apple falls far from your tree when it comes to making ridiculous assumptions.

Anyone who "wants" to play for a specific school would have already made the decision and not leave coaches in a last minute bind. I would not want any kid who didn't show he wanted to play for my team or me. So...with that said, Md doesn't need him. We've already got guards who will that much better next season. Give that scholarship to another "Big" and keep the team in tact. Let Lance take his circus to another school and distract them.

If Calipari goes to Kentucky, it's either Maryland or Kentucky (if they would be interested, and that probably depends on Jodie Meeks not coming back)

Gary has made a strong effort to get this kid Stephenson from Brooklyn. If he doesn't come here then good riddance. It happens. Just keep pushing strong for other top recruits, especially in the metro area. My only 'beef' with GW was that he was not getting 'out there' and being aggressive on the recruiting trail. Take ownership GW and press on!

Maryland fairwheather fan make me sick cause u guys don't really know what u want gary doesn't break the rules u guys complain, he tries to get good players then u guys condem them cause they have a pass just let gary coach and shut up please Maryland would be the best situation for lance cause Big jordan, and Big lance are going to be beast in the acc!!!!!!

Coach Cal to UK is the BEST thing that could happen for the Terps in the BR sweepstakes. X Henry may not want to follow Coach Cal to UK and will then attend KU (Coach Self licking his chops) leaving BR to, presumably, the Terps or SJ (if he doesn't choose UK).
Gary keeping up the chase really helps IMO...

The unnamed "sources" continue to be a hoot. They say his failure to declare today might not change his assumed destination (read Kansas), however he himself says it's a tough decision (that is, he might change his pick).

What I'm wondering is whether Gary Williams caring enough to be in attendance at his Lance's last game had much of an impact. Maybe that's part of the reason he's not sure. (Now watch Bill Self show up at McDonald’s All-American Game.)

One question is whether the Terps should be this interested. Yes, he's obviously a hugely talented player, but so was John Gilchrist, who never had the team-first mentality that Gary looks for. Apparently, it was hoped that once he arrived at Maryland that mindset could be instilled in him, but Gilchrist never got it or, perhaps, wanted to get it.

Another concern is whether Stephenson will bolt to the NBA after one season at Maryland, making him almost like a "rent-a-player." If so, the Terps would have a one year to be an elite team, then hope for a quick maturation of Jordan Williams and newbies in their sophomore seasons, plus another solid freshman class to keep a high level of play.

Hey, I think Lance is being very mature about this whole decision. I think we ought to give him a break. Why would you want him to rush the decision. Its his not ours. This is a huge decision for an 18 year old. I can't imagine having to face all those reporters when I was that age. Also, I hope Lance understands how much the Maryland fans would just love for him to bring his versatile game to COMCAST CENTER. Lance was absolutely adored when he paid a surprise visit to COMCAST. The student body was CHANTING his name. Lance should understand that Kansas is a recruting machine. It is very likely that they have boosters pretending to be Maryland fans who then post negative opinions to blogs. Don't laugh. Does it really make sense that someone would claim to be a Maryland fan and then say they don't want one of the best players in the country to come to their school? Yeah sure. In any large crowd you might get a few disenters with legitimate concerns but just focus on the facts and truths. Lance should just focus ON THE ADORING FANS THAT GREETED HIM WHEN HE VISITED COMCAST. THAT CROWD IS THE FACTUAL TRUTH ABOUT HOW MARYLAND FANS THINK ABOUT HIM, not the knuckle headed Kansas boosters posting to blogs.

I was reading ESPN this morning, and now it ALLLLllll makes sense. Calipari jumping to KY has thrown the recruiting world into a tizzy. Calipari had 3....3 of the ESPN 100's Top 6 coming to Memphis, plus the #47. The number 1 was Xavier Henry, a shooting guard whose final two were Memphis (where Calipari let his older brother on the team despite not playing basketball in several years) and...Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Buehler? ....Kansas. Stephenson is being smart at least....committ to a school witht he #1 player in the country is going to go? In your position? Alot of shaking going on. All four of those Memphis recruits are now trying to get out. More wait and see.

How was the opportunity to use the headline "Born Ready Not Ready?" missed on this post?!?!

stephenson and his family are being smart. the lies from kansas, calipari jumbling the ncaa world. he is waiting for the dust to settle so he can make the best decision.
saying a shoe sucks isn't a character thing. he is 18. everything that isn't great is going to suck to an 18 year old. --PTERP
the fake fan/blogging thing is real and a DAILY activity across the country. good luck stephenson.

Space,

I would ask you what planet you are from but your name answers that for me. For one the kid did not say the shoe sucked, his father did. This kid has been accused of gropping a girl and punching out a team mate. If you ever watch him play he often takes the ball out of his team mates hands. Can you not agree that there may be some character issues there???

I don't think that if we disagree on something it means that you are a fake fan.