Storm Brewing?

A player of Lance Stephenson's ability can write his own ticket to just about any school in the country. But the latest rumors seem to indicate he won't need a "ticket."

Just a MetroCard.

St. John's has been on Stephenson's short list for a couple of weeks now... and recruiting guru Adam Zagoria has word on how coach Norm Roberts might try to seal the deal: by offering an assistant coaching position to Stephenson's high school coach, Lincoln High School's Dwayne "Tiny" Morton.

Hiring a coach or other close confidante as part of a package deal with a major recruit is legal under NCAA rules -- many successful coaches have gone that route, including John Calipari of Memphis. Calipari's first major recruit at Memphis was DaJuan Wagner -- who arrived at the school along with his high school coach (and father), Milt Wagner. Adding fuel to the discussion: Roberts does have an opening on his staff. One of his assistants left for a job at Marist earlier this year and has not been replaced.

Ordinarily, we'd prefer not to see a school use this tactic on an obvious potential one-and-done like Stephenson... but desperate times call for desperate measures. Roberts has yet to post a winning record at SJU, and with teams like Louisville, Connecticut, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Georgetown all looking like real contenders, the Red Storm's prospects for 2008-09 seem bleak. A recruit like Stephenson would be St. John's most significant arrival since Fran Fraschilla signed Ron Artest.

And the most hyped since Sports Illustrated cover-model Felipe Lopez.

Even as a one-and-done, Stephenson would instantly restore some of St. John's lost prestige... and possibly save Norm Roberts' job.