Team’s Starting Point Could Be in Brooklyn

The Clippers are expected to search for a point guard this summer, but would they be willing to take a flier on a high school player?

According to Sports Illustrated, they are “said to be infatuated with” Sebastian Telfair, a 6-foot senior at Lincoln High in Brooklyn and cousin of New York Knick point guard Stephon Marbury.

“Really?” Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy, a Brooklyn-bred former point guard, said Friday. “I can’t answer for my scouts; I haven’t really talked to anybody about it.”

Telfair, who has signed with Louisville, could become the first point guard to jump directly from high school to the NBA. He is thought to be leaning toward making the leap, though he was quoted as saying it was “50-50 right now.”

Dunleavy and Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak were among the crowd that saw Telfair play in Pauley Pavilion two months ago. He scored 37 points in helping Lincoln to an 85-82 victory over North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake.

“He’s a terrific high school player,” Dunleavy said. “He’s a great high school player. But the question is, translating high school to the pros.”

No other position would require a more demanding transition, said Dunleavy, citing not only the size, speed and maturity of the competition but also the more complex offensive systems and reads that would have to be mastered.

“It would be very difficult ... not only talent-wise, but [in terms of] running the team,” said Clipper veteran Doug Overton, a journeyman point guard. “You’ve got to be a leader, a strong [personality]. It’s hard to get across to players that have been in the league awhile....

“As a point guard, you’ve got to dictate sometimes, you’ve got to get on people sometimes. So you’ve got to be really, really exceptional in those verbal skills. You can have the talent, but if you can’t get your teammates to respond, it’s going to be hard. It’s tough for guys who’ve played one or two years in college.”

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TODAY

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Records -- Clippers 25-35, Grizzlies 37-24.

Record vs. Grizzlies -- 0-2.