Leading off today: Two of the greatest major-sport performers in recent state high school history — both of whom have become punch lines to unflattering jokes at their expense — are back in the news as we head into the weekend.

   First up, The Daily News updated the most tedious story of the year by reporting that the list of colleges still pursuing Abraham Lincoln basketball star Lance Stephenson continues to grow shorter than the autograph line for Eliot Spitzer at a Promise Keepers rally.

   The paper reported yesterday that Maryland is no longer recruiting Stephenson, though Memphis and Arizona might still be options.

   The paper also said there are rumors circulating that Stephenson's "Born Ready" reality TV series and his family's alleged relationship with the Under Armour athletic wear are triggering concerns of NCAA compliance issues. That's probably a bit of a reach since any number of college prospects will run into minor NCAA issues every year only to have them cleared up in a relatively painless process.

   Stephenson, New York's career scoring leader, and Lincoln teammate Darwin Ellis are due to return to Brooklyn Criminal Court on June 29 to face a sexual assault hearing after being charged with groping a 17-year-old girl last October.

   On the football front, Newsday says Jason Gwaltney has caught the eye of the Canadian Football League and that the former prodigy regarded by some as Long Island's best running back since Jim Brown may go that route rather than trying to enroll in Division III Kean (N.J.) University in the fall or after one season there.

   "Jason has ideal skills," John Murphy, director of player personnel for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, told the paper. "He can run, he can catch, a big guy like that would be able to block in the system we have up here. He can have a very successful career."

   Gwaltney, 22, indicated he'd prefer a year of school before moving on. He has two years of NCAA eligibility left. "I want to leave some kind of footprint on NCAA football," he said. "I can't really look at the past. I can only look at the future and worry about what I can become."

   Gwaltney has played in just 12 college games for West Virginia, Nassau Community College and C.W. Post after rolling up 7,800 career rushing yards — second in state history — at North Babylon. Along the way he's developed a reputation for lacking discipline and desire, and C.W. Post reportedly cut him loose this spring for not adhering to the conditioning program.

   Changes at Maginn: The search to replace Bishop Maginn boys basketball coach Rich Hurley is expected to begin this month, The Times Union reported. Hurley resigned Tuesday after five seasons to focus on family and his education.

   Hurley intends to remain as the school's director of admissions and as a guidance counselor.

   Additionally, the mother of star guard Taran Buie told the paper that she's moving her family to State College, Pa., this summer. Buie, who was second-team all-state in Class AA last season as a junior, is the brother of current Penn State star Talor Battle.

   Under Hurley, 36, Maginn won its first Section 2 Class AA title in 2007, then went 25-2 with a NYSPHSAA championship the next year and 17-4 last season.

   "I love basketball; it's my No. 1 passion," he said. "I do

Spring tournament schedules NYSPHSAA boys lacrosse NYSPHSAA girls lacrosse NYSPHSAA baseball NYSPHSAA softball

plan, hopefully, to be back at some point. I certainly want to be back. Wherever that may be ... who knows? What level that may be ... who knows? Right now it's just the best for me and my family."

   New challenge for ex-coach: Approval has been granted for the launch of The University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men ("UPrep") in Rochester in September 2010, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

   The school is slated to enroll 150 junior-high boys for its first year and grow to 450 students in grades 7 through 12 by 2014.

   The principal will be Joe Munno, formerly varsity football coach at Marshall and Aquinas. Munno is a retired Marshall principal.

   "We have a 15-member board. They are men and women from all walks of life in this community," he told the paper. "They truly have a vested interest in the education of young people in this community. This has been a labor of love for these 15 people."

   Tennis coach is award finalist: Saratoga Springs coach Rich Johns is one of 10 national finalists for the 2009 Starfish Award for the second consecutive year, the United State Tennis Association announced.

   The award honors coaches who institute a no-cut policy for their teams. The USTA will select two national winners at its 39th annual Tennis Teachers Conference on Sept. 1.

   Ramapo coach Sue Bordainick was one of the two national recipients in 2008.

   Coming and going: Moore Catholic officials announced that all-time Staten Island High School League wins leader Tony Rafaniello has been hired to coach boys basketball. Rafaniello recently announced his retirement as coach and an administrator at New Dorp.

   He coached six seasons at Monsignor Farrell before moving over to New Dorp in 1981 and possesses a a 467-335 record. Rich Postiglione, who coached both varsity teams last season, will remain as the girls coach and AD. He coached the boys for 17 seasons.

   "Retirement scared me,” Rafaniello, 58, told The Advance. “"I don’t play golf. So I decided this would be a great fit."

   Ken Wilkin, who resigned as McQuaid's soccer coach after last season, has been hired to coach the Bishop Kearney boys, the Democrat and Chronicle reported. He led McQuaid to its first Section 5 title and into the state final Class AA in 2005. He was 115-34-12 in eight seasons.

   Mike Obuhanich is retiring after 32 years at Angelica and Genesee Valley according to the Wellsville Daily Reporter. Obuhanich was the AD at Angelica from 1981 until the 1997 merger with Belmont and will be replaced by Lisa Scott-Schneider. He rolled up more than 200 wins and four sectional titles as a boys soccer coach, won a sectional baseball championship at Alfred-Almond and is an accomplished golfer.

   Boys basketball and tennis coach Don Baker is also retiring from Genesee Valley, fresh off his sixth sectional basketball championship.