Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo is heading to Alcatraz, and it has nothing to do with his buddy Kendrick Perkins‘ not guilty plea to public intoxication charges. But it does have a little to do with his thieving ways.

After Red Bull donated $500 for each of his 153 steals this past season ($76,500) to refurbish 13 Boston basketball courts, Rondo’s next endeavor associated with the energy drink company is hosting the second annual Red Bull King of the Rock 1-on-1 basketball tournament, scheduled to conclude on Sept. 24.

Last year’s tourney on the prison yard marked the first official sporting event ever held on The Rock. This year, 64 qualifiers from 22 U.S. cities and 12 other countries will compete for the title. Boston native Tony Lee won the New England qualifier, earning $1,000 and a trip to Alcatraz along with runner-up Marius Bausys of Lithuania.

The 25-year-old Lee captured three state championships as an All-Scholastic performer for the Charlestown High basketball team. From there, the 6-foot, 205-pound guard played four seasons at Robert Morris University, capturing conference player of the year honors as a senior after setting career rebounds and single-season assists records for the Colonials.

Lee told SLAM that he’s seeking a job after recently playing in Austria, and maybe his performance on The Rock will help further that cause. His interview with SLAM is pretty classic. I especially enjoyed this exchange: Read the rest of this entry »