James Wiseman has a chance to be the best player in Memphis basketball history, which shows you the No. 1 recruit’s potential is unlimited.
James Wiseman was the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2019 and with that title whichever school he would have committed to would’ve been under a spotlight. The media focus will be even stronger now that he chose to remain at home and play for Memphis.
He is simply put, the pride of the city. The reason the Tigers are among the preseason favorites to win the NCAA Tournament is they kept the nation’s best incoming freshman in-state.
Getting Wiseman to sign on the dotted line is the biggest win of Penny Hardaway’s short coaching career. He was able to fend off other more prominent programs — namely Kentucky — in order to secure the best recruit in the nation. Bringing him in also led to them securing the best recruiting class in the country. With that influx of talent, expectations will naturally raise on what is expected of the Tigers this year.
The 7-foot, 210-pound center looks the part of the modern big man. His compilation of skills, size, and athleticism crosses the t’s dots the I’s and with player evaluation.
He’s comfortable on the perimeter, capable of taking his defender off the dribble or knocking down outside jumpers. Being able to pull opposing rim-protectors away from the basket is a vital part of spread offenses.
Though he has a slim build, he has a nice touch in the paint and at least one go-to move to use with his back to the basket. And at seven feet tall he is also a vertical threat capable of making an impact through offensive rebounds, putbacks and lobs.
As is, he’s a prospect NBA general managers wish they could bring into their franchise. Aside from two-way wings, a versatile athletic center is one of the most coveted players in the league today. Even if his low post game doesn’t develop with the Tigers he has a role waiting for him at the next level.
However, the hope is Memphis will be able to get the most out of him while preparing him to be a better player when he does become a professional. That is the primary draw of having a former NBA player on the sidelines as the head coach. When you add in Hardaway’s credentials it makes him the quintessential choice to rebuild the Tigers into a national powerhouse.
The situation he enters at Memphis is most like what Anthony Davis faced in his one season in Lexington. Davis’ dominance didn’t only come in the box score, his presence alone made the Wildcats the best team in the country. His talent allowed for the supporting cast to reach their full potentials.
If Wiseman falters, there’s six other five and four-star recruits on his team who are used to being their team’s best player.
He begins the year as the projected number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the only way for him to go is down.
Wiseman will be scrutinized, analyzed, broken down and scouted to a degree he’s never experienced before over the duration of his freshman season. Any flaws in his game will be broadcasted for all to see. In high school, he was able to mask them due to having a superior physical profile than anyone he faced. In college, that changes from day one. On a nightly basis, there will be a player who is as tall, as strong, as quick, or as athletic as he is.
What will separate him from everyone else are the skills he acquires this season. How he responds to the pressure will say a lot about him and the player he will eventually become down the line. When players have all eyes on them they don’t always rise to the occasion. Being labeled as a bust by the media is one thing, but letting down the community you grew up in is a whole different level of disappointment
Wiseman knows what he is walking into and it is on him to show everyone his status as the top recruit wasn’t a mistake. There are several other incoming freshmen who hope to be the man at their schools. If he can establish himself on the court then he could cement his legacy in Memphis.
Despite finishing as the top-ranked player, there were plenty of examples of times when Wiseman didn’t meet expectations on the floor. That can’t happen this year. Not only would it result in his status among his peers drop but it would likely lead to Memphis being unable to reach the lofty goals they have set for themselves this year.
The path from top recruit to top pick has been done before and Wiseman is the latest player attempting to pull it off. It will be up to him to prove he’s ready to be the face of the franchise.
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