Louisville coach Rick Pitino may want to put on his finest suit and best dress shoes this coming weekend.
Lance Stephenson and Tyreke Evans are coming to town.
That's right, Stephenson, the No. 4 player in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals, and Evans (left), the No. 6 player in the Class of '08, will both be at Freedom Hall for Friday night's 2K Sports All-American Shootout.
Stephenson is coming off an ankle sprain suffered Friday night in a scrimmage at Bishop Loughlin. For the latest on his status, check out my exclusive story soon to be posted on NYCHoops.net.
If he is ready to go, Stephenson and Lincoln will take on St. Xavier of Louisville, while Evans and American Christian meet Bradenton (Fl.) IMG Academy. American Christian is the No. 3 team in the latest National Prep Poll.
"We're going there to play in the tournament and while we're there we're going to take a look at the campus," said Lance Stephenson Sr., adding that they planned to stay for Saturday's Dayton-Louisville game at Freedom Hall.
Stephenson has previously taken unofficial visits to Seton Hall, Indiana and Southern California, and still plans to visit North Carolina, Memphis, Kansas and Georgetown.
"This will be his first time out there (at Louisville) and we do plan to meet with Coach Pitino and some of the players," Lance Sr. said. "Pretty much take a look around. We're going to be right there on campus, so we can't help but take a look around. Hopefully we'll get a chance to chit-chat with Derrick Caracter and Earl Clark and Edgar Sosa."
Stephenson and Caracter played together on the Panthers AAU team in the seventh grade and the pair also teamed up at the ABCD Camp in the summer of 2005. That year they squared off against current USC freshman O.J. Mayo.
Louisville already has commitments from American Christian's Lamont "Momo" Jones, formerly of Manhattan's Rice, as well as Melquan Bolding of Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains, N.Y., and 6-9 St. Benedict's (NJ) Prep forward Samardo Samuels (left).
Surely, Pitino would love to add Evans in the Class of '08 and Stephenson in the Class of '09, even if they never play together.
"Lance is a year behind 'Reke," Reggie Evans said. "If 'Reke sticks around for college and 'Reke ain't ready to go pro, hell yeah that would be a great backcourt."
Lance Sr. said he and Reggie, Tyreke's brother, talk a couple of times a month via texts or calls "just to check in."
Lance even invited Evans to his birthday party Sept. 13, but Evans couldn't make it.
Reggie said he and 'Reke did not plan to stay in Louisville for the Dayton game because they have to get back for Sunday's game against the Patterson (NC) School in Washington, D.C.
"We're in there on Friday, we're out on Saturday," Reggie said. "We got to prep for that game against Patterson on Sunday.
"Right now it's strictly a visit (to Louisville) with American Christian, not an (official) visit."
Reggie previously told ZAGSBLOG he and 'Reke were impressed that Pitino's club signed big man Terrence Jennings of Notre Dame Prep.
Evans is coming off a 50-point outburst against Summit (Calif.) Prep Saturday at APEX Academies in Pennsauken, NJ.
"He tore it up, he was unbelievable," Reggie said. "He couldn't really miss. He probably missed like four shots. He was in a zone."
Reggie said 'Reke was still considering six schools: Louisville, Memphis, Villanova, UConn, Texas and Seton Hall.
They have visited each of those schools except Memphis and plan to see that school for the Tennessee game Feb. 23. Sometime after that visit, the Evans family will sit down and evaulate their options.
"Once we get to Memphis, we'll put all the cards on the table," Reggie said. "We're going to go over and evaulate every option from the coaches, the players coming in and out, everything. We're going to have a board meeting. That's going to be the decision."
Both Reggie and Lance Sr. said not to sleep on Seton Hall and that that school was a viable option for both players.
"People put it out there that it's a joke," Reggie said. "But it's not a joke."
Lance Sr. added that he could see Evans going to play for Pirates coach Bobby Gonzalez, whose team is currently 6-1 after Saturday night's loss at St. Mary's.
"(Seton Hall) definitely has a good chance (with Evans)," Lance Sr. said. "Seton Hall has really been trying to get him to come there. They got a connection with Michael Glover and American Christian." Glover, a freshman forward, is on campus and practices with the team as he awaits word from the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Lance Sr. added that Seton Hall was still in the running at this early stage for his son's services.
"We had an early visit with them," Lance Sr. said. "That's why we're not really active with Seton Hall, but I do text the coaches once in a while and talk to them, so it's almost like we put them on the list. We checked them on the list and we're waiting because we got to Seton Hall early. We plan to have a second visit before any decisions are made.
"Coach Gonzalez has a proven record and we know the Big East is tough. If someone's an average player, he's going to make him into a good player."
Lance Sr. allowed that current Seton Hall star Brian Laing had crossed paths with Lance and had a big impact on his game.
In 2004, they were playing in the IS8 league when Lance received a long outlet pass and appeared to have a routine layup.
"Brian Laing jumped from the free throw line and actually blocked Lance's shot," Lance Sr. said. "It made Lance aware if you're playing with older guys, you have to go hard to the basket. From that time one, he never coasted to the basket. He's always been strong."
(Photos courtesy Rivals, Kelly Kline, Daily News, Herald News)
These guys are 1 and done in college hoops, let Pitino rent them for a year. He's a pro coach dressed up in college coaching colors anyway and has doesn't give a thought to student-athletes earning college degrees. It's a shame that college basketball has become a business to many schools in this way.
Posted by: 1oldshu | December 03, 2007 at 09:45 AM
TYPO CORRECT:
He's (pitino) a pro coach dressed up in college coaching colors anyway and HE doesn't give a thought to student-athletes earning college degrees.
Posted by: 1oldshu | December 03, 2007 at 10:07 AM