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Memphis basketball: Starting lineup options for next season

By Mike Phillips

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 15: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers talks to his players during a timeout against the UCF Knights during the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on March 15, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis defeated Central Florida 79-55. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 15: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers talks to his players during a timeout against the UCF Knights during the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on March 15, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis defeated Central Florida 79-55. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /
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MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: James Wiseman reacts during the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019 in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for Powerade)
MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: James Wiseman reacts during the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019 in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for Powerade) /

Best-case scenario

  • Point Guard: R.J. Hampton
  • Shooting Guard: Rayjon Tucker
  • Small Forward: Boogie Ellis
  • Power Forward: D.J. Jeffries
  • Center: James Wiseman

No matter how you slice it, nearly any scenario you can come up with features an elite starting five for the Tigers. Memphis should have pretty much a brand new lineup compared to last season, but the missing piece could be Hampton.

Hampton, who has reclassified into the class of 2019, was originally expected to go to Duke before Tre Jones decided to remain in school for his sophomore year. The Tigers aren’t short on options for the point, with four-star recruit Damian Baugh committed and rising sophomore Tyler Harris in the mix, but Hampton would be a massive upgrade over both of them.

Hampton is currently rated as the fifth-best recruit in the 247Sports Composite and is currently unsigned, with Memphis and Kansas among his two top options. If the Tigers land Hampton, he would be the final piece of a lineup featuring four top recruits and an elite graduate transfer in Rayjon Tucker.

Tucker, who averaged 20.3 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game for Arkansas-Little Rock last season, would provide the veteran leadership this young group of Tigers could seriously use. Memphis could alternate between him and Boogie Ellis at the 2 and 3, but either way, Memphis is set there.

Add in Wiseman at the five and D.J. Jeffries sliding down to the four and Memphis could have one of the deadliest starting fives in the country.