New York high school basketball star Lance Stephenson shocked everyone and announced that he'll play basketball for the University of Cincinnati. The signing (which hasn't happened yet) will be the biggest deal for Mick Cronin. Cronin has taken heat for not turning around the Bearcat basketball program quicker.

Stephenson could be that piece he needed. And Stephenson fits the mold of the old Bearcat basketball program under Coach Bob Huggins; including a questionable and checkered past of Stephenson. He is still to stand trial for a sex allegation with a 17-year-old student. There were concerns about his family taking payments from Under Armor. In short, Stephenson is high on talent, but high on baggage. We've seen this before. 

These type of gifted players are what brought much success to Clifton with Huggins. It's also what gave him and the university a reputation for recruiting thugs. But the Clifton fans were happy because the program was winning.

Cronin had inherited an abandoned, wrecked program and then was directed to follow a path of the straight and narrow athlete. Focus on academics, instead of athletics is what Nancy Zimpher molded. Mick did. The Bearcats were mediocre. They almost overachieved themselves to 20 wins last year. Mick doesn't get the credit for that. He gets the blame for not getting the elite athletes.

So Bearcat fans can't have it both ways. Athletes like Stephenson aren't real interested in matriculating through a university. They're interested in promoting themselves, their highlight reels to an NBA career. As a Bearcat fan, I am ready to watch in excitement. I could care less if he graduates. I do want him to keep his nose clean while on campus. But mostly, I want to see what Mick can do with a group of talented athletes, instead of a group of student-athletes.

lance stephenson, mick cronin, uc bearcats