Friday's contest between Lincoln (New York) and St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) features two of the country's finest perimeter players. Lincoln's Lance Stephenson and St. Patrick's Michael Gilchrist are very different in their approach to being productive players on the court, but when they are firing on all cylinders, both players are virtually unstoppable.
Stephenson, the No. 8 player in the Class of 2009, is unsigned and uncommitted. His offers include Kansas, UCLA, Kentucky, USC, and hometown St. John's and he was recently spotted on an official visit to the University of Maryland, where Lincoln teammate James Padgett, a 6-foot-8 power forward, signed in November.
Gilchrist is the top player in the 2011 class. He is reportedly getting courted by Memphis, Oregon, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Baylor. Considering he's only a sophomore, Gilchrist's list could be constantly changing as he takes unofficial visits and begins to establish relationships with coaching staffs.
Both of these players have plenty of game and can stuff the stat sheet, but they do it in different areas. Stephenson is a scoring machine who can produce big numbers in a short period of time. Although he is a good -- not great -- athlete, Stephenson is a confident scorer with great size and strength. He can score from anywhere on the floor. In transition, he sprints the lane or attacks off the dribble; he will take on multiple defenders and create shots in traffic that he can make. He can shoot the deep 3 off the catch, dribble or attack the lane and knock down the midrange pull-up when he can't get all the way to the rim. He's not afraid to go to the hoop; Stephenson is plenty strong enough to finish through contact. He is an excellent ball handler and passer when he draws a second or third defender and keeps it simple. But make no mistake about it, Stephenson is thinking about scoring every time he catches the ball.
Like Stephenson, Gilchrist is long, athletic and tough. He is a live body who is always near the action. Gilchrist runs the floor in transition and can finish above the rim. He also scores on drives and slashes from the high post and from the wing. Gilchrist has no problems finishing through contact. The midrange pull-up is also a weapon and his shooting range is to about 15-18 feet when his feet are set -- but he must work to be more consistent from beyond the arc. What sets Gilchrist apart is his ability to rebound on both ends of the floor with relentless energy. Gilchrist also has excellent foot speed and quickness that allows him to be a capable defender. He can defend the 2, 3 and 4 positions.
When these two stars go head to head, expect Stephenson to put Gilchrist's defense to the test every time he catches the ball. He will attack off the dribble and attempt to use his strength. If Gilchrist plays off, expect Stephenson to make it rain from 3-point land. Gilchrist will counter on offense by attacking Stephenson off the dribble in an attempt to get him in foul trouble, which is a good strategy because at times Stephenson will reach and gamble on defense. Gilchrist will also attempt to make his presence felt on the glass. He will be a difficult box out for Stephenson because of his energy and relentless pursuit of the ball, especially when he sprints to the rim from the perimeter for offensive rebounds.
Look for Lincoln to play an up-tempo game and mix its defenses. The Railsplitters will play man, zone and also show full-court pressure. St. Patrick also wants to go up and down the floor and add as many possessions as possible to the game. The Celtics have more depth than Lincoln does and they will play mostly man defense. This game could be a highly skilled track meet that should be entertaining from start to finish.