Memphis basketball: Scouting the nation’s No 1 recruiting class

Penny Hardaway has brought Memphis back to national prominence with the nation’s top recruiting class. A preseason Top 10 ranking is next.

It once appeared that the University of Memphis was poised to meet the same fate that the University of Massachusetts suffered once John Calipari left. UMass has never been able to recover from Calipari’s departure, and Memphis’ first eight years after Calipari did not inspire much confidence into Tigers’ fans. However, local legend and basketball icon Penny Hardaway is poised to turn the Tigers narrative around and restore the national lure that was once placed upon Memphis with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.

Hardaway promised to keep the great Memphis-area talent in-state and has so far delivered on his word. Sophomore guards Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax were huge gets last year, and four incoming freshmen (Wiseman, Jeffries, Dandridge, Baugh) are from the Memphis area.

The Tigers had room for such a large freshman class due to numerous senior graduations. Seven freshmen will enroll in the fall. The Tigers incoming class consists of two five-stars and five four-stars, all are ranked inside the top 110 recruits.

Below you will find a brief scouting report on the incoming recruit and what this means for Memphis. The numbers in parenthesis next to a player’s name are indicative of their rank according to 247Sports.

• James Wiseman (1) – Elite prospect and No. 1 for a reason. Legit seven-footer with a plus wingspan. Tremendous athlete who can run the floor with coordination. An explosive player who can handle the ball to his advantage in 1-one-1 matchups with quick and explosive dribbles. Offensive game is expanding, and right now primarily consists of lefty hooks (he is a lefty) and midrange jumper. Needs to work on off-hand in the post, his shooting range to be respected from the perimeter is definitely projectable. Defensively moves well. Will absolutely need to add weight (210 pounds) as he already has room to improve defensively and rebounding so added strength is a must. Candidate for No. 1 overall pick in 2020.
• Precious Achiuwa (14) – Combo forward with elite athleticism, one of the top five most athletic players in his class. Already possess physical intangibles to impact the college game (6’9″/215). Has decent “raw” feel to his game where the Tigers coaching staff can truly show their NBA experience and player development skills as Achiuwa can develop into a lottery pick.
• Boogie Ellis (37) – True combo guard who can absolutely shoot the ball. Can score on or off-ball. Great ball handler. Average size and will need to add strength as most freshmen do. Solid on-ball defender but potentially will be targeted due to his frame.
• DJ Jeffries (48) – Another combo forward who continually adds to his game. Great size (6’7″/218) who possibly could play/guard 3-5 depending on opposing lineups. Very comfortable interior game and is continuing to improve and be consistent from the perimeter. Very good and fluid athleticism that is displayed during drives to the rim and in transition. Will need to improve defensive movement at the college level and has the potential to be a great two-three year player.
• Lester Quinones (56) – Shooter, shooter, shooter. Ready to hit from deep all game and will benefit from greater spacing from high-school to college. More than happy to attack the basket and has a solid handle, can also facilitate as a secondary ball-handler. Not the quickest player so might face issues versus greater athletes or strong perimeter defenders. Pick-and-roll defense will be a must watch for scouts.
• Malcolm Dandridge (98) – Undersized 4/5 (6’8″/245) with intriguing potential. Physically ready for college. Has attacking mentality that he brings to defense and rebounding. Raw offensive skill set, especially with post moves. Developing a consistent jumper and can be reliable from the elbow one day. Setting up to be a multi-year player who will be able to contribute every year he is in college.
• Damion Baugh (108) – Physical combo guard who loves to attack opposing defenses at the rim. Posses good frame (6’4″/185) that will improve with an official strength and conditioning program. Defense is a calling card of his and has the potential to become an elite perimeter defender with his toughness and mentality. Needs to improve his shooting and how much he improves his shot will likely define how much early playing time he receives.

What’s it all mean for the 2019-2010 Memphis team?

Expectations are sky-high for Hardaway and Memphis as the 2019-2020 season approaches. The sheer talent of the freshman class alone will likely garner a top-10 (maybe even five) ranking. Hardaway and his staff will have to prove they can develop phenoms to excel in the college game as well as manage the behaviors and expectations of his young team.

Furthermore, Memphis has three or four players in Wiseman, Achiuwa, Ellis, and Quinones who could be one-and-done players, so Hardaway is going to have to find a way to get his guys to buy in and accept their roles. Most of these incoming freshmen have been the “guy” at their schools and always had the ball in their hand.

There isn’t a real downside for having a recruiting class like the incoming one Memphis is rolling out next season. Sure, expectations are high but Hardaway is a man who wants the spotlight on his team and wants to return his hometown school to national prominence, so there shouldn’t be a concern there.

However, Hardaway and his staff will have to ensure that their young Tigers can play together and grow together to have a championship season.