Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson
Image by Chad Griffith
While most of us were hitting the asphalt to work on our game, Lincoln H.S. (Brooklyn) standout Lance Stephenson was 3,000 miles away in a Portland gym showing how New York gets down.
From June 15-17, a collection of Adidas sponsored AAU teams met up in Oregon for the 2007 Rose City Showcase. A scheduling issue on the first night of action forced the tournament officials to hit the buzzer and sub one of the main events for a light exhibition. That set up the “Clash of the Classes.” On that stage, former Bounce cover man Lance and his 2009 classmates took on the best players graduating in 2008.
It’s no shock that the rising seniors (class of ‘08) earned the victory, but not without a valiant effort from “Sir-Lance-lot.” Stephenson exploded for 26 points. He scored from every angle imaginable on an array of dribble drives and pull up jumpers. Lance made dudes pay severely for daring to guard him.
Understand that his status as one of the nation’s top is no fluke. Stephenson is very much legit. He has the 2006 EBC America M.V.P. trophy and the ingenious nickname given to him by our own Bobbito Garcia to back it up. Look for him at the playground this summer to do it all over again.
Check out more on Lance Stephenson in Bounce #8. Also, hit up www.dimemag.com for a look at all the top Adidas national team players.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Bobbito says:
This will be a small footnote in his story, but let it be known that i gave him the nickname “Born Ready!” It was in the inaugural Elite 24 All American game at Rucker Park last summer. I was on the mic, and felt it was appropriate. supposedly Lance loves it, was even writing it on his sneakers all through winter season. Shout to his pops, and PR who is working on a documentary on his already fabled HS career . . .
July 6th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Davidc says:
I believe Lance is No. 1