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New York is the largest media market in the world. So naturally the talent that the city produces is going to be thoroughly documented and at times over publicized. However, the Big Apple has been home to larger than life skills that fit the billing. Players who graced NYC playgrounds and gyms include: Lamar Odom, Stephon Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Felipe Lopez, Erik Barkley, Sebastian Telfair and the most recent addition, Lance Stephenson.

Dwanye "Tiny Morton is the head coach at Lincoln High in Brooklyn, NY. Morton recently and currently taught a couple of the most hyped players in the history of hype. Sebastian Telfair and the heir to the NYC basketball throne Lance Stephenson. Morton is held in high regard by his community and rightfully so. But the Coach takes it all in stride, the good with the bad. Like the time that ESPN did the documentary on Telfair and sure enough, the kid sprains his ankle.

A hobbled Telfair was chomping at the bit to play. Was his drive to play, because he is a competitor? Or was it because his brothers conditioned him to never back down and taught him that when the " lights are on", their on? Or finally was it because Sebastian didn't want to let down his Coach? Could it be the point in the kids life when all of the things in his life culminated? Coach Morton has known Sebastian since he was 6 years old:

“My earliest memory of Sebastian was him roller-skating in the park and dribbling a basketball at the same time,” says Dwayne “Tiny” Morton, Telfair’s coach at Lincoln. “Maybe he was 6. I thought it was kind of stupid, but I think it really helped him with his balance and coordination.”

When it came time for the native son to choose a school, there was no other option for Telfair other than to attend Lincoln. After all his cousin Stephon had flourished and thrived under then assistant coach Morton's guidance:

“Some of my earliest memories are of watching my cousin Stephon play for Lincoln,” says Sebastian. “When I was 12, I got in a fight with my sister, and my mom wouldn’t let me watch Lincoln play in the city championships. That was the death penalty of punishments. I cried all night long.”

Lance Stephenson's hype is bigger than your hype. Stephenson has eye popping talent, with a dynamic skill set and ever-improving jumper. Stephenson was awarded the 2008 NYC Daily News Player of the Year at the 40/40 club in May. The kid led his Railsplitter squad to a huge PSAL championship game win at Madison Square Gardens, he tallied 27 points and 8 rebounds. A week later he led the team to a second straight state Federation 'AA' championship. He was plagued by early foul trouble but, managed 16 points and 12 rebounds.

An injured ankle sidelined Stephenson for the first few weeks of his Junior campaign. He was later suspended for fighting a teammate. In addition he sat out the first round of the state tournament, a reason was never disclosed. Lance Sr. remains confident that his son will not fall in the same trap that friend and fellow phenom O.J. Mayo (allegedly) landed in:

"We have a pretty solid circle, It's just me, his Mom and Lance. "We're hard-working people," Stephenson Sr. said. "We don't have people knocking on our doors and we don't entertain it. Usually, people who fall into temptation want to do it. We just want to play basketball." 

Lance's father coaches his son on the AAU circuit on the newly formed Raising Champions team

If he gets his act under control, focuses only on basketball and stays away from the proverbial dark side, then the sky is the limit for the prodigy. The list of schools produced by the Stephenson camp is almost certainly subject to daily change. The most recent one we seen listed: UK, Kansas, UNC, St. Johns, Memphis and IU. However Stephenson again listed USC in the interview at the bottom of the article.

I heard something today that holds especially true to NYC basketball: Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.

If your prepared in the city that never sleeps opportunity will come a knocking. In the end, the only person that could stop Lance, would be himself. If Lance remains on the straight and narrow he could easily sustain his lottery status. I only hope that the image that his parents and coach Morton projects of themselves is the same persona that is tutoring the potential All American. Stephenson can ill-afford to have off the court issues, keep him off the court. After all, luck is the idol of the idle and Lance is at his best when on a fast break, with his foot on the gas.

Stephenson updated his recruiting status and talked about Kentucky in this recent interview with Alex Schwartz:

NB: There’s been a lot of reports lately about what colleges you’re considering. Can you just clear up the air and let me know what schools you are officially considering?

LS: UCLA, USC, and Kansas.

NB: What about Kentucky?

LS: Oh yeah, I like Kentucky, [it’s] a good school. I’m looking at every school, so if I just tell you a name of a school, that doesn’t really mean I’m actually going to really go there, I’m just looking at them real hard right now.

NB: Are there any other schools that are a little bit further behind . . . that you’re also considering? Anyone in particular?

LS: Memphis, St. John’s, [Pause] Indiana, and North Carolina.

NB: Does St. John’s have a bit of an edge in some ways because [it] is the home state school?

LS: Oh yeah, I was really looking at St. John’s. I think I can bring New York back [to prominence], so I’m really looking at that right now.

NB: What are going to be some of the factors in your decision?

LS: [A] good place surrounding and a good coach.

NB: You mentioned USC. What do you think about the whole OJ Mayo situation right now?

LS: I think that it’s real messed up, but [Pause] somebody did the wrong thing around him and I don’t think that should have happened, but . . . I don’t think I’m going to be in his league. I’m just focused on school and basketball right now.

(Jamal Mashburn was a NY native(Bronx). Mash racked up 1843 points in 98 career games at the University of Kentucky.)

Here are a few articles and sites that have more info on Stephenson.

http://www.bornready.tv/

New York Post

ESPN