Lance Stephens has yet to play one second of basketball in the NBA and he is already making a bad name for himself. Drafted in the second round by the Indiana Pacers, Stephens, 19, was arrested on Aug. 15 for allegedly pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs at her apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y. after the couple got into a dispute. His girlfriend was later taken to the hospital and treated for head and neck injuries.
The all-time leading scorer in the history of New York City High School baskletball, Stephens was a top recruit until he was arrested during his junior year for sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl. Although he was considered a high prospect while at the University of Cincinnati, his draft stock plummeted because of the sexual abuse case.
Stephens can’t afford to be viewed as a trouble maker off the court. As a second-round pick, the Pacers can cut Stephenson before the NBA season starts because he doesn’t have a guaranteed contract. It appears that Stephens is another example of a pro athlete whose talents will be wasted because of criminal activity off the court. –amir shaw
