You hate to hype underclassmen, but when you see

Sebastian Telfair play, it becomes abundantly clear

that the Lincoln High School point guard has some

special gifts. Possessing an extraordinary feel for

the game, plus excellent vision and court awareness,

you can't help but marvel at what the sophomore might

be down the road with continued hard work.

Coming off a 17 point, 7 assist, 5 steal performance

in a 75-60 win over Brandeis, the shifty Coney Island

native poured in 27 points as Lincoln trounced

Brooklyn rival Boys and Girls 68-42 in the semifinals

of the PSAL playoffs, earning a date with Gary Ervin

and Robeson at Madison Square Garden next weekend.

Telfair skittered through traffic, stymied defenders

with a first-rate handle, and handed out some

well-placed assists in the win. The waifish 5'10''

point guard has been working on his strength in order

to tangle with more physical defenders.

"The one thing that has really helped me this year

is that I have gotten stronger," said Telfair. "That's

something I've been working on."

While he still needs to add some muscle, Telfair's

elusiveness with the basketball makes him a terror to

guard. A third quarter bucket saw Sebastian stagger a

defender on the baseline with his crossover and loft

the ball over two defenders for the basket and the

foul. Another notable play took place early in the

fourth quarter, as Telfair darted through traffic and

buzzed a lookaway pass to a teammate with his left

hand. Telfair's innate feel for the game is rivalled

by few.

Saturday's win earned Telfair and Lincoln the right

to take the floor at Madison Square Garden, a

privelege the sophomore will savor.

"I've been to Knicks and St. John's games, but I've

never actually played at the Garden," said Telfair.

"It's been a dream of mine."

The PSAL final will pit arguably the top two point

guards in New York City against each other, Telfair

the shifty, smooth point man against Ervin, the

jabbing and juking bundle of energy. While competition

no doubt will be fierce, the two Brooklyn natives have

a friendly rivalry.

"We've known each other for a long time," said

Telfair. "We used to play on the same team before I

came to high school."

When Telfair hits the Garden hardwood for the first

time next weekend, expect the similarities between he

and his second cousin, Stephon Marbury, to surface.

"It's like deja vu sometimes," said Lincoln coach

Dwayne "Tiny" Morton. "Even the way he takes his

lay-up and goes to the hoop(resemble Marbury)."

Telfair, who plays for the Brooklyn Bridge AAU

program, is averaging 29 points, five assists, and

three rebounds per game for Lincoln.