Al-Farouq Aminu is in legal trouble

Al-Farouq Aminu, one of the top players in the class of 2008 and the gem of Wake Forest’s incoming recruiting class, was arrested this weekend in Georgia for assault and trespassing.

The assault charge for Aminu, along with two teammates at Norcross High, stems from an incident in which the three allegedly shot an Atlanta woman with a BB gun from inside a vehicle, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio released a statement saying: “We are in the process of gathering all of the information on this incident and it would not be fair to make any statement or judgment until we collect all of the facts.”

Aminu, named Georgia's Mr. Basketball by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, has been ranked as high as the 19^th best player in the nation by TAKKLE.com and Sports Illustrated.

More updates as events unfold.

- Meanwhile, back on the court, Lance Stephenson led Coney Island Lincoln High to an 88-67 victory over Holy Cross in the New York State championships this weekend in Glens Falls, N.Y. Stephenson finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds and was named Federation MVP. Holy Cross forward Sylven Landesberg finished his career with a 31 point performance in the loss. The Virginia signee was named the New York’s Mr. Basketball after the contest.

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Courtney Fortson Stars at National Prep School Invitational

Although somewhat overshadowed by the Primetime Shootout, the National Prep School Invitational was this past weekend, and featured some of the best signed and unsigned players in the country. Not to be confused with next month’s National Prep Championships (a Great-Eight style single elimination tournament to be played over three days at Fordham’s Rose Hill Gymnasium, the PSI is just a regular showcase event. But, like most of the Prep School season, it was dominated by Arkansas-Bound Courtney Fortson and the Patterson School.

Fortson, along with unsigned prospects Varez Ward and Darius Johnson-Odom, won two games at the event, besting Terrence Jennings and Notre Dame Prep, and also topping Bridgton Academy. The Cougars are now 30-0 and should be the favorites next month in the Bronx.

- The best game of the upcoming weekend looks to be Coney Island Lincoln’s match-up with St. Raymond’s of the Bronx at Long Island University. Those who saw Lance Stephenson’s performance at the PrimeTime Shootout will be expecting similar fireworks, but don’t count on it. West Virginia-bound Darryl “Truck” Bryant is a hard-nosed defender and he thrives going up against the best. Earlier this year at MSG, he held St. Patrick’s guard Dexter Strickland to only 13 points on the day Strickland announced he was going to North Carolina. Could be interesting.

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Primetime Shootout All-Tournament team:

First Team:

Lamont Jones, American Christian, Aston Pa.: Jones had perhaps the best quarter of the tournament. The junior Louisville signee hit six 3-pointers in the third quarter against Rancocas Valley en route to a 25 point day. Jones went for 24 on Sunday against South Kent.

Mike Rosario, St. Anthony’s, Jersey City, N.J.: Playing on the first day of the weekend in Piscataway, the senior Rutgers signee shined in his first game at the RAC, scoring 32 points against John Carroll.

Greg Monroe, Helen Cox, Greta, La.: In one of the better games on the tournament, Monroe scored 24 points and 9 rebounds in leading the Cougars past Whitney Young of Chicago.

Lance Stephenson, Lincoln, Brooklyn: No player made as definitive a statement as the junior forward Stephenson. His 35-point, 16-rebound performance was the highlight of the tournament. Born Ready was ready for his close-up.

Doron Lamb, Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn: This spot was supposed to go to Kevin Jones of Mount Vernon, but Lamb’s 28 point performance against Trenton Catholic was the highlight of a lackluster final day of the tournament. This sophomore is going to be something special.

Honorable mention: Isaiah Thomas, South Kent; Samardo Samuels, St. Benedict’s; Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy; Kevin Jones; Mount Vernon; A.J. Rompza, Whitney Young; and Dexter Strickland, St. Patrick’s.

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Lance Stephenson - Mr. Prime Time at the Shootout

Lance Stephenson was ready for his national coming-out party. Playing in front of a nationally televised audience, the Coney Island Lincoln junior wing had 15 points in the first quarter en route a monster 35 point, 16 rebound performance in tonight’s feature game against Rice High of Manhattan. Stephenson made several tough shots in the fourth quarter to lead the Railsplitters to a hard-fought 75-68 victory.

It was another tough luck loss for Rice, whose three losses this season have come against national powers St. Benedict’s of Newark (N.J.), Christ the King of Middle Village, N.Y. and now Lincoln. Rice guard and UConn commit Kemba Walker finished the night with 23 points.

Video Posted from Lance's Gallery on Takkle.com

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It’s the Lance Stephenson show, starring Lance Stephenson.

Lance Stephenson and Lincoln of Coney Island were the stars of Saturday’s competition. The Railsplitters embarrassed Milwaukee Pius IX 89-56, with Stephenson tallying 22 points and 13 rebounds in just 22 minutes on the court.

Stephenson, a junior, is the star of his own web reality series, available at BornReady.tv. Not to put the cart before the horse, but if the Railsplitters win this year’s Public Schools Athletic League championship, he and teammate Darwin Ellis will have a chance to be the first players to win four consecutive PSAL titles next year. The only potential hurdle for Lincoln in the PSAL is Boys & Girls High of Brooklyn, which features Rutgers-bound shooting guard Patrick Jackson. The Kangaroos played the Railsplitters tough in December, falling 109-95 in double overtime. These two squads met last year in a PSAL final that was marred when several brawls broke out in the stands at Madison Square Garden.

- Although much of the focus this past weekend was on the HoopHall event in Springfield, Big Apple Basketball’s High School Invitational at Baruch College in Manhattan had its fair share of thrilling finishes as well as big-time prospects. Despite playing without top-rated-prospect Tyreke Evans, who was out with a concussion, Pennsylvania’s American Christian still had enough firepower to outlast St. Thomas More of Connecticut and Indiana-commit Devin Ebanks. Ebanks, who had played at Bishop Loughlin of Brooklyn previously, tallied 31 points and 16 rebounds in the loss.

- Also at the Big Apple event, Notre Dame Prep topped Blair Academy of New Jersey 77-67. It was an odd game for the Crusaders, however, as Louisville-bound star forward Terrence Jennings found himself in foul trouble early. Missouri-bound guard Kim English picked up the slack, however, notching 21 points and eight rebounds in just 18 minutes.

Video Posted from Lance's Gallery on Takkle.com

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