Testudo Times, a Maryland Terrapins community

Cincinnati signee Lance Stephenson pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct Friday, effectively ending the sexual assault case that plagued the McDonald All-American's recruitment and reputation.

Stephenson was accused of groping a 17-year-old girl during an incident last October and was facing up to six months in jail on the misdemeanor sexual assault charge. But with the plea, he will now be asked to perform just three days of community service and undergo counseling, according to the New York Daily News .

As far as we know, Maryland is still an option. ... There are no compliance issues. Lance will be good.

But a source close to the Florida program told me this morning that the Gators are no longer pursuing Stephenson.
"[There's a) zero (percent) chance we take him," the source said.

And when you consider that Arizona's Sean Miller also seems skeptical, that leaves Maryland and Memphis as the lone schools still believed to be genuinely open to taking Stephenson.

[Arizona coach Sean] Miller said the chances of adding a fourth recruit, either highly-touted guard Lance Stephenson or disgruntled center Jerrid Famous, are slim.

"It's about building a program that can return to dominance and do all the things we've watched Arizona do for not five years, but 25 years," he said. "My philosophy in doing that is thinking longer and bigger than just one season."

In other Florida developments, the New York Daily News quoted sources close to Brooklyn Lincoln guard Lance Stephenson saying that Florida is now in play for the 6-5 McDonald’s All-American.

Gary Charles, who coached Stephenson on the New York Panthers AAU team, said it wouldn’t surprise him if Florida came after Lance because the Gators needed a guard to replace Calathes.

Florida International University has become the latest team embroiled in the seemingly never-ending Lance Stephenson sweepstakes.

"Thomas is going after Lance hard," said a source with insider information.

"As of right now, Zeke has the upper hand on Arizona, Memphis and whoever else, for reasons I’m not at liberty to speak about," explained the source.

The source continued, "I get the inside word before it even hits the streets."

Don’t expect Arizona to add McDonald’s All-American Lance Stephenson to its current class.

According to sources close to the situation, new Wildcats coach Sean Miller has had communication with the Stephenson camp – largely due to the relationship between Stephenson and Arizona assistant coach Emanuel "Book" Richardson – also a New York native.

However, Arizona is not expected to make a move on the talented, yet enigmatic wing player.

Lance Stephenson could make a college decision by the end of this week, according to a source close to the situation.

"I think by the end of the week they'll make up their mind between Arizona and Memphis," the source said.

"It's more than rumors," the source said. "They're not going to Maryland, they're not going to St. John's. And he ain't going to Europe."

The Lance Stephenson Sweepstakes continues to drag on with no end in site.

"They’re not close to making any type of decision. It’s not even close," said a source with direct knowledge who had communicated with the Stephenson family. "There’s no timetable."

Xavier Henry made it official on Thursday.

The 6-foot-6 wing announced at a press conference at Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City that he and his brother will play for Kansas coach Bill Self next season.
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Now the world waits to see what Brooklyn’s Lance Stephenson will do.

Stephenson is expected to announce within the next few days whether he will attend Kansas, Maryland or St. John’s. Rumors are floating that he might hold a press conference Friday, but a source inside the Lincoln athletic department told SNY’s Brooklyn Sal Thursday morning via email that that was "absolutely false."