LAHAINA, HAWAII – In May, Lance Stephenson’s father, Lance Sr., told USA Today that his son had narrowed his list of college suitors to two: Arizona and the Terrapin men’s basketball team.

Stephenson, the nation’s No. 11 recruit according to Rivals.com, ultimately chose Cincinnati after those two teams, who join the Bearcats at this year’s Maui Invitational, lost interest.

Yesterday, Stephenson, who ended up as a central figure in the backlash against Terp coach Gary Williams’ recruiting during the middle of last basketball season, took the court against the No. 21 Terps in a second round Maui Invitational matchup. Stephenson, dubbed “Born Ready” for his can’t miss potential, recorded 11 points, including five of his team’s first seven points, and eight rebounds as his Bearcats topped the Terps, 69-57.

“He didn’t (say anything about it) in the hotel,” Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates said. “But once we got out there and we got on the bench, he was hyped and kinda talking and that kinda let us know that he knew somebody.”

Stephenson, who was not available for comment, became linked with the Terps late last year after Williams’ recruiting came under scrutiny. And Terp nation buzzed with the possibility of pairing the 6-foot-5, 210-pound swingman with Greivis Vasquez and the team’s other returning players.

But landing Stephenson, a teammate of Terp freshman James Padgett at Brooklyn’s Lincoln High — where he finished as New York state’s all-time leading scorer — would’ve required Williams to take the kind of high-risk, high-reward gamble that he was previously criticized for not exploring.

Stephenson became the source of controversy due to a criminal sexual abuse case that was eventually settled via plea bargain to avoid possible jail time and a potentially improper relationship with Under Armour, the Terps’ official outfitter and a major athletics supporter.

As Stephenson’s recruitment dragged on, Williams and the Terps lost interest, and Stephenson committed to Cincinnati on June 30. Stephenson, who has not decided if he will enter next year’s NBA Draft as some expect, was cleared by the NCAA to play this season hours before the Bearcats’ first exhibition earlier this month.

With his efforts in helping the Bearcats pull off their second upset win in as many days, Stephenson is averaging 10.5 points and five rebounds through his first four college games.

“He’s versatile — somebody that big who can put it on the floor,” Williams said afterward. “Obviously, he gets up around the rim, but he’s going to be a very good shooter in time. Obviously, he was one of the best freshmen coming out this year.”

How long he stays a Bearcat is another story.

As Williams recruited Stephenson, many speculated that he’d jump into the NBA Draft after just one season in college. He’s currently ranked by ESPN as the No. 89 prospect and in the “second round pick to undrafted” range.

One NBA scout in Maui, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Stephenson has not declared himself eligible for this year’s draft, said teams like Stephenson’s quickness for his size, but they are not convinced whether he fits best as a big guard or a smaller small forward at the next level. His inability to knock down outside jumpers en route to a 4-of-10 effort from the field in his team’s first round upset of No. 24 Vanderbilt didn’t help those questions. He hit one of his two three-point attempts against the Terps and knocked in another with his foot on the line.

“He’s still got a ways to go,” the scout said.

But Tuesday, it was good enough to help beat one of the teams that heavily recruited him. Stephenson got the Bearcats rolling with nine first half points. That included a thunderous dunk after a steal near midcourt that was part of the 14-0 run that put Cincinnati ahead for good.

“Lance gets up for just about every game, but this in particular one, he came out with the energy,” Gates said. “He kinda got us going.”

edetweiler@umdbk.com