Supreme court decision: who's this year's top high school player? The debate is lively, and the verdict won't be rendered in the media, but on the hardwood

Sporting News, The, July 14, 2003 by Mike DeCourcy

Telfair began his atonement by leading Lincoln to a second consecutive state title in March. He prepared for this summer with intensive training that allowed him to add strength without sacrificing his astonishing quickness. An early sign he's not the me-first player of 2002: with 14 assists, Telfair set the single-game record last month at the USA Basketball Development Festival.

Although he has been in the Adidas system since before he was a teenager, Telfair is considering attending the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., with New York's Gauchos club rather than return to the Big Time. He wants to be certain he opposes all of the best guards who regularly compete on the Nike circuit. "I don't want to leave anybody unchallenged," Telfair says. "I'm not going to call myself the best until I've played against everybody."

James could call himself the best without playing against anyone. Telfair isn't battling to be the next LeBron--just to be the next player to stand where he stood.

E-mail associate editor Roger Kuznia at rkuznia@sportingnews.com.