Lance Stephenson cleared to play

Over the summer, if someone had asked you to name the recruit the least likely to be granted full eligibility by the NCAA, who would you have named?

Some would have said Renardo Sidney, who has yet to be cleared by the NCAA. A few probably would have mentioned John Wall, who received a one game (plus an exhibition) suspension. No one would have said Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, who was held out of UConn's first exhibition, or Deniz Kilicli, who was suspended for WVU's first 20 games.

Lance Stephenson has been cleared by the NCAA.
(photo credit: Nathan Blue)

How many would have said Lance Stephenson?

We all know the issues he had surrounding him during his recruitment. No one wanted him. It got to the point where it seemed like he was trying to recruit coaches to offer him a scholarship. This is the all-time leading scorer in the history of New York high school basketball, not some schlub that averaged 10 ppg as a high school senior.

Well, as of today, anyone that said Stephenson would have been wrong.

The talented, 6'5" scoring guard has been fully cleared by the NCAA to participate in games, meaning that, barring something unforeseen, Born Ready will be ready to play come Cinci's first game Nov. 16th versus Prarie View A&M.

I'm telling you, do not sleep on the Bearcats this season. Stephenson and Deonta Vaughn will form one of the best 1-2 scoring punches in the country, and with a big and deep front line and point guard Cashmere Wright finally healthy, this Cinci team is a sleeper to win the Big East.