Clippers' Paul Pierce has found his Diamond in rough

LOS ANGELES >> Diamond Stone took a semester’s worth of classes at Maryland before declaring for the NBA, but he’s enrolled in a very exclusive continuing education program in Playa Vista.

Around 10 a.m., Stone goes to school with Professor Paul Pierce, with the two players battling 1-on-1 before each of the Clipper practices over the past few weeks.

And class, it can get pretty contentious, starting with roll call.

“Diamond is a stripper name,” Pierce said. “His name is Rookie.”

The pair have very little in common on the surface. Pierce is nearly 20 years Stone’s senior and in the last season of a Hall of Fame career. Stone, a second-round pick, is trying to find his way in a league he knows…