Everyone expects Sebastian Telfair to be the next big thing, whenever LeBron James escapes the spotlight.
And Telfair, the junior point guard for Lincoln, already is feeling the effects of it. Considered by many to be the best junior basketball player in the country, Telfair was in a Brooklyn sporting goods store recently with his coach, Dwayne Morton.
“The guy saw who I was and made a joke, asking if I wanted any free jerseys,” Telfair said before scoring 26 points as his team beat Banneker, 74-56, in the Brooklyn Borough championship game last night at St. Francis College.
“I didn’t think it was funny at all. It wasn’t a joke that my friend got in trouble.”
Although James has kept a low profile since he was briefly banned from high school ball for accepting a pair of vintage jerseys in Ohio, Telfair was in contact with the St. Vincent-St. Mary star yesterday.
“He’s doing well now,” said Telfair, who was uncomfortable discussing the recently reinstated James. “He’s happy to be playing again, but you can tell the whole thing has affected him. He’ll be fine, though.”
Telfair has kept an especially close eye on James’ situation because he figures to be under similar scrutiny next season, though not as much.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot watching what’s happened to him,” Telfair said. “It’s going to be a good situation for me, but that means you have to be even more careful. I’m going to have to be on point all the time and make sure not to make any mistakes, even things that don’t seem that wrong.”
Talks already are under way to televise some of Lincoln’s games next year, but don’t expect Telfair to dominate the sports world like James has.
Outgoing PSAL chief director Kevin Gill, who is being replaced this week by Martin Oestreicher, said nothing would prohibit Lincoln from moving its home games to a bigger site, like James’ team has. Lincoln athletic director Renan Ebeid said the school hasn’t begun to consider what it might do if demand for its games increases next season.
“We’re just trying to get through this season,” Ebeid said.
Lincoln likely will keep playing its home games in its small Coney Island gym. Not only is the 5-foot-11 Telfair not the NBA sure-thing James is, but the thirst for high school basketball isn’t nearly as great as it is in activity-deprived Akron.
“We don’t even sell out all of our games at Lincoln,” Morton said. “I don’t think everyone is all of a sudden going to get excited.”
Morton added that he has had offers from over 20 national tournaments for next season, but it won’t be as overwhelming as what James has seen. The 6-8 star will be at the Prime Time Shootout in Trenton tomorrow, and Telfair will be there to watch.
“I can’t wait to see him play again,” said Telfair, whose team will play there on Sunday. “Once he gets on the court, he’s going to be unbelievable. He’s been waiting so long for this.”