A year ago, Maryland fans were eagerly watching recruiting news and wondering whether Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson would become a Terp. He was at the time a McDonald's All-American and one of the top unsigned basketball prospects in the nation.
We reported in June 2009 that Maryland was no longer recruiting Stephenson, who later became a Cincinnati Bearcat
So what became of Lance? Surprise! He played one season for the Bearcats and declared for the NBA. Sure didn't see that one coming.
While in college, Stephenson was an exploratory studies major. What was he exploring? His NBA options, I guess.
OK, enough sarcasm. I don't begrudge players heading early to the NBA. Not sure I would call them "student-athletes," though. It's more like they're making a minor-league stop on the way to the big leagues.
For the record, Stephenson was good but not amazing. He averaged 12.3 points per game and was named by the team as its Defensive Player of the Year. He was Big East Rookie of the Week four times.
Unlike Greivis Vasquez after last season, Stephenson announced his intention to hire an agent, which would make his decision irrevocable. So he's truly one and done.