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The Next LeBron?

Brooklyn Senior Has One Eye on the NBA

Section: Sports, D01

TEANECK, N.J. -- The search for the next can't-miss high school basketball player ended with another first-name phenom, Sebastian, well before LeBron James made his NBA summer league debut.

Lincoln High senior point guard Sebastian Telfair actually hit the big-time about a year or so before people outside of Akron, Ohio, started to find out about King James. That's what happens when you play basketball in Brooklyn, amidst the New York hype.

"Emotionally, coming from New York City, I think I'm more ready than LeBron ever was," Telfair said this summer. "I've been through it more. It'll be a lot different for me this year, but then again, every year is different. I've just got to stay focused."

James and Telfair really aren't all that different. Both players make those around them better with their passing skills and exceptional court vision. They both have a megawatt smile and the ability to handle the pressures of popularity with ease. And no one questions their work ethic, which for Telfair includes running the 15 flights of stairs in his Coney Island apartment building five times each morning.

The two have enough in common that they have become buddies and talk almost weekly despite all the chaos that surfaces around each.

However, there's one major difference. James is 6 feet 8 and a rock-solid 240 pounds while Telfair is 6 feet and tips the scales at a meager 170. James was a lock for the top pick in this past NBA draft from the moment his senior high school season began. Telfair, if he opts to bypass college and become the first sub-6-5 player to make the jump, would be anything but a lock to go in the lottery.

"He did the impossible last year," Telfair said of James. "He told me that I've got to be strong mentally and that a lot of things will happen that I can't control."

"Bassy," as he is known to many, was born for the spotlight. Unlike James, who often excused himself from dealing with the media during his school's national tour of games last season, Telfair welcomes the attention like a true New Yorker.

"I love it and I think I'll always enjoy it," Telfair said. "I want my games on ESPN. I don't think that anything will be too much for me this year. We're preparing for the worst, for it to be nuts. That will help me prepare for the next level."

While the national television exposure will likely come, he won't have the luxury of playing a schedule loaded with road games that will land the school a big payday in much the same way that James was able to do last year at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

"We're a public school and we don't have the freedom to sign contracts and get money like that," Lincoln High Coach Dwayne "Tiny" Morton said.

Telfair was born on Coney Island, the southern tip of Brooklyn. He can boast of impressive bloodlines and a solid support system. His older brother is former Providence star Jamel Thomas, and his cousin is NBA point guard Stephon Marbury.

"Some of the rules may be unfair, but I know what I can do and what I can't do," said Telfair, referring to James's incident earlier this year involving the purchase of throwback jerseys. "Hopefully, guys like me will learn from LeBron."

Telfair burst onto the national scene as a 5-8, 135-pound talent before he ever played his first high school game at Lincoln. He impressed observers during the summer before his freshman year and proved he could hold his own at the Adidas ABCD summer basketball camp, when he became a participant only after another point guard backed out at the last minute.

He has won two straight New York City PSAL championships and also will try to help Lincoln repeat as the Federation Class A champion this upcoming season. He even handed the championship trophy given to him after last season's title game to Antonio Pena, because Telfair believed his teammate was more deserving of the honor.

"That's just the type of kid he is," added Morton. "He just helps people whether he's on the court or off of it. I can go down the list and see how many people have benefited from Sebastian, including myself."

Last month he made his fourth straight appearance at the ABCD camp -- with a pair of all-star game MVP awards to his credit. However, his national reputation had taken a hit over the last year or so and he was no longer considered the top guard in the camp.

Instead of being the hunted, Telfair became the hunter.

"It was a little different, but I liked it," he said.

This winter, Telfair will step into the spotlight vacated by James and will wrestle with the same decision that took his friend just seconds to make.

"I am keeping all doors open for college," Telfair said. "But I think I'm leaning to the NBA more now than I was a year ago because of the way my body has developed. I'm also shooting the ball much better.

"You don't just want to say you're going to the NBA unless you're going to get picked in the top 20, to guarantee your spot," he added. "Because you can go to college and guarantee a great time playing basketball. You don't want to put your life and career on the line by being stupid."

Pro scouts and college coaches agree that he'll need to get physically stronger to make the jump successfully. Louisville Coach Rick Pitino has been the most active in recruiting Telfair and it appears as though the Cardinals have the inside track -- should he attend college.

"He doesn't want to just come into the league and be another player," said one Division I assistant coach. "He wants to make sure he's in the top 15 picks so he can play minutes right away, but I really don't think his goal is to go to the NBA and play 10 minutes a game. He wants to go in and dominate."

Just like another recent high school basketball phenom.

Darko receives Detroit's ringing endorsement
By: Chad Ford, ESPN Insider

DETROIT -- Meet Will Robinson. Robinson is the assistant to the president of basketball operations for the Pistons. He is the NBA's oldest scout, at the ripe age of 92. He has been inducted into 24 Halls of Fame. He has coached the likes of Doug Collins and Spencer Haywood. He was the first African-American head coach in the history of NCAA Division I basketball. And if you listen to him, he invented such things as the full-court press and the fast break. It's tough to find anyone who's been around long enough to dispute that. You've heard of six degrees of separation? Robinson plays about three. Rumor here in Detroit has it that he cut the hole in James Naismith's peach basket. He comes to work every day, watches game film and never misses a workout. Robinson has sat through the Pistons' draft workouts for the past 28 years, witnessing the auditions of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman and Grant Hill. Dumars, now the Pistons president, smiles when he sees Robinson walk onto the court Wednesday in preparation for Darko Milicic's individual workout. Call him a comfort blanket. "Let me tell you something about Will Robinson," Dumars says. "He's seen it all. You can't fool Will Robinson. Nothing gets by him." Robinson's a little early today for a reason. He's a late-comer on the international bandwagon. He has listened to the talk radio hosts and local writers imploring the Pistons to take Carmelo Anthony over Milicic with the No. 2 pick in next month's draft. Like the rest of them, he has yet to see the young Yugoslavian in person. "In the past, when we brought in the guys from overseas, Will would sit there, shake his head and say 'Send him back ... he needs to spend more time in the oven,' " Dumars says with a laugh.

Robinson takes his seat courtside, crosses his legs and stares Darko down as he begins warming up. For the next 45 minutes, his eyes never leave the 7-footer. From agility exercises (Darko ranks in the top 15 percent) to tests that gauge lateral quickness (Darko ranks in the top 2 percent), vertical jump (a little above average) and upper and lower body strength (OK on the first, above average on the second), Robinson is watching Milicic's every movement. It isn't until Milicic picks up a basketball and starts effortlessly draining NBA-range 3-pointers (remember, his coach in Yugoslavia wouldn't let him take European 3s, let alone from the NBA distance) that Robinson begins speaking up. He doesn't stop talking until well after the workout. "We hit the jackpot," Robinson says with a smile. "Jackpot!" Milicic moves into the post and begins hitting jump hooks, first with his left hand. Then with his right. Robinson can't tell whether Milicic is left- or right-handed. That's a good thing. "How'd that boy learn to shoot with both hands?" he asks.

Interesting story. Milicic was born left-handed, but his parents and teachers encouraged him to do everything with his right hand. He shoots 3s with his left, signs autographs with his right and handles the ball equally with both. "That's just unfair. Very few players can do that." At one point, a clearly exhausted Milicic bends over and, for a moment, looks like he can't go on. He sips a glass of water, slaps his hands together and gets back on the court. "Did you see the way he just gutted that out?" Robinson says. "That's the type of kid you want to coach. If I was coaching him, we'd go to the moon." Soon Darko is running the floor, handling the ball on the break and finishing with thundering dunks. "He's going to own the game. Own the game," Robinsons exclaims. "We're going to have to build a new arena. The only thing that could destroy a kid like that is a woman." Another big dunk, and Robinson gets up from his chair and begins walking toward Dumars. "I've seen all I need," he says. "Take him," he screams at Dumars. The Pistons aren't through with Milicic yet. After lunch with Dumars and Co., Milicic is back at the workout facility receiving his homework assignments from strength and training coach Arnie Kander. Kander isn't taking the usual approach to tall, skinny Europeans. Over the few hours since Darko's audition, Kander has been devising a workout plan for the kid that will get him up to speed for minicamp. Milicic and his agent, Semi Pajovic, have asked for the help. Until now, Milicic has been living on a steady diet of 200 push-ups and 300 sit-ups per day. Kander's plan calls for no weight lifting, fewer push-ups and zero protein supplements. Kander is blown away by what he calls "Darko's tremendous gift of speed." "He's got a naturally strong body," Kander says. "I don't want him to bulk up. If he does that, he'll lose that quickness he's been blessed with. I just want him to get a little stronger, work on his base and improve his flexibility. I love his body for a 17-year-old. I just want to let it grow." Kander prescribes a number of exercises meant to give Milicic upper body strength, better balance and more explosiveness in his jumping ability.

He also gives him a tip or two about rebounding by pulling a page out of Ben Wallace's book. The key to Wallace's rebounding prowess, according to Kander, is the way he always keeps his arms bent. It allows him to free himself from defenders and get to the ball quicker. Kander shows Milicic exercises that will get him in the right position to rebound. Nothing like learning from the best. "He has all of the physical tools to exceed," says Kander, who has been testing draft prospects for the Pistons the last 10 years. "My job is to teach him how to use them." Kander lectures Milicic on everything from posture to shooting form to push-up positions. Darko eats it up. He had nothing even remotely close to this in Yugoslavia. Kander promises that if Milicic faithfully follows the regime four times a week, he'll be in NBA shape by the start of summer league. After the workout, Milicic measures out bigger than expected: 7-foot-1, 253 pounds. Robinson has found religion. "I've seen a lot of kids come through here in my day," Robinson says. "And none of them have ever played like that. That kid's going to be a star. He's a 7-footer that plays like a point guard. That kid's something special." From the looks on the faces of the rest of the Piston brass and assistant coaches, they're on the same page. "Welcome to the Pistons, young fella," Robinson tells Darko after the workout. "Ain't youth a wonderful thing?" Yes it is. Like just about anything else Robinson says, it's awfully hard to argue with 92 years of experience. In a league that can be swayed by the whims of trends and fleeting success stories, it's nice to have an anchor that keeps the ship from straying too far beyond shore. Will Robinson is sold on Darko Milicic. The question, for the unbelievers still out there, is why aren't you?

Future's now for some top players

Section: Sports, Pg. 10c

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The nation's top high school boys and girls basketball players were here last week for the McDonald's All-American games. For some, it likely will be the last time they play for free -- several may jump directly to the NBA.

The boys like to watch the college game but acknowledge the NBA's lure. The girls think the WNBA will be around for a while but can't see female high school players jumping to the pros any time soon.

USA TODAY's Christopher Lawlor sat with them for a chat.

Boys Q and A

Q: We know the positives of playing college basketball -- education, opportunity to refine your game and experience of college life. But if a high school player can jump to the NBA and start making millions, shouldn't he?

Dwight Howard: "He should. If that's your goal, then you've accomplished what you set out to do. If you skip college, don't view it as missing out on an education but as fulfilling a dream."

Sebastian Telfair: "If I wanted to be a doctor or lawyer, I'm going to college. Fortunately, we're talking about basketball, where we develop our talent at an early age."

Josh Smith: "If you need money to support your family, you can't get it playing in college. College is great, you get an education and room and board, but let's face it, playing in the NBA is a great job."

Al Jefferson: "You can go to college to earn a degree so you can make money or you can go straight to the NBA and get paid for something that you love."

Q: Don't failures like Leon Smith or Korleone Young scare you?

Shaun Livingston : "(Making the jump) isn't for everyone. You have to know yourself."

Telfair: "There's no guarantee if we go to college we'll go to the NBA. We'll get a degree but not be working at a job that we want. We love playing basketball."

Howard: "Those that didn't make it didn't have the passion or the drive. I think they reached a certain level and felt, 'shoot, I'm here and making millions.' "

Jefferson: "You have to go in (the NBA) with a mission. Look at LeBron. He's on a mission. Same thing with Kobe, Kevin Garnett . . . may have taken a while, but they're at the top of the game."

Q: Which is better, college basketball or the NBA? Why?

Chorus: "To watch? College."

Telfair: "(College is) more exciting, especially March Madness. . . . In the NBA (playoffs), it's a win-win even when you lose. In college, once you lose, it's over . . . you go back to being poor. In the NBA, you go on vacation."

Howard: "For me, it's college because of the intensity. In the NBA, if you win, you win. If you lose, you lose. You're still getting paid because it's a job."

Q: Do you think the college game has been hurt by the underclassmen and high school stars jumping to the NBA?

Telfair: "Definitely. If those players stayed in school, it would be a higher level of play."

Smith: "I've noticed the talent is down. There used to be two or three good players on a team. You don't see that anymore."

Q: Is getting a scholarship to play college basketball enough for what you put into the game and what the school (and the NCAA) gets out of it?

Telfair: "I don't think it's fair. I get an education and travel all over, but what does that do for my little brother and sister in the projects?"

Q: Who has been a bigger influence on your life: your high school coach or summer coach?

Smith: "My AAU coach (Wallace Prather), because this is the first year I met coach (Oak Hill's Steve Smith). The AAU coaches have been there for me since I was 15."

Telfair: "The AAU coach is more influential because the scouts aren't out. . . . Some guys make their name in the summer . . . no, basically everyone makes it in the summer. I don't know a guy who made a name in high school."

Chorus: "Summertime, summertime, summertime."

Jefferson: "My AAU coach, because nobody would know who Al Jefferson is unless I went to the Bob Gibbons 17-and-under team when I was 15."