Stepheson loading up on frequent flyer miles

Alex Stepheson must have a great travel agent. The 6-foot-10, 210-pound power forward from Harvard-Westlake High School in Studio City, Calif., has literally traveled the world in the last six months and his frequent flyer miles continue to rack up in Sept. with a trio of official visits.

The summer provided Stepheson to play in France alongside guys like Kevin Durant, Tywon Lawson, Spencer Hawes and college studs like Rudy Gay and Malik Hairston.

Then it was the AAU circuit, making the tradition stops in Jersey, Vegas and Richmond, Va.

Now he's jumping back on the plane for cross-country trips to some of the top programs on the East Coast. Stepheson made his first official visit last weekend to Georgia Tech and came away impressed with his time at the ACC school.

"I had a lot of fun out there," Stepheson said. "I've never really had a chance to hang out with coaches all day and night like I did out there. I learned about them as people. I really got to know coach (Paul) Hewitt and the team.

"I learned to watch the coaches and players. Georgia Tech was really positive and it just had a positive atmosphere," Stepheson said. "I liked the city of Atlanta. It's a big city with a lot to do as a student and your post-basketball life. It was good getting out there and seeing what it had to offer."

This weekend he'll reunite with Hawes and his Georgia Tech visit mate Thaddeus Young as all three visit North Carolina.

"I'm really excited for that trip. It should be a lot of fun," Stepheson said. "I'm looking forward to meeting their coaches again and seeing their players. They have a lot to offer there. Getting out there and seeing it again will help me a lot more than just reading the letters and the things they send out."

Stepheson has been to Chapel Hill before. He took a look around during the Tournament of Champions over the Memorial Day Weekend in May. After his visit with the National Champs, it's a weekend in Storrs, Conn., as he visits UConn.

Three other schools are being considered for the final two official visits this fall, Stepheson said. Washington, UCLA and Kentucky are in the picture. Stepheson said UCLA is close enough to his home that he has visited the campus before and played with the Bruins in open gyms.

His family has accompanied him on the visits and they'll help the big man choose his college destination.

"We're pretty firm that we want to sign in November," Stepheson said. "It's just a matter of finding the place that is right for me. I'm in the process of finding that out right now."