Memphis’ freshman class is highly acclaimed, and Penny Hardaway has embraced the high expectations for his team as the 2019-20 season gets underway
by Dick Weiss for TheAmerican.org
The Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center was overflowing with NBA scouts and general managers for the University of Memphis’ pro days.
Some 83 scouts from all 30 franchises were there the first day. Fifty more stayed for a second to catch one more look at second-year coach Penny Hardaway’s top-ranked recruiting class.
This may be the best class in the history of Tiger basketball - and that includes the 1969 class with guard Larry Finch and forward Ronnie Robinson that gave the school control of the local city talent, and eventually combined with junior college star Larry “Dr. K” Kennon to lead Memphis State to the 1973 NCAA championship game against UCLA in St. Louis.
This year’s class features 7-1, 240-pound freshman center James Wiseman from Memphis East, who was the top-ranked prospect in his class and could be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft; and 6-9, 225 pound power forward Precious Achiuwa, another potential lottery pick from Montverde Academy.
It includes five more impact players -- forward DJ Jeffries, guard Boogie Ellis, guard Damion Baugh, guard Lester Quinones and center Malcom Dandridge - who could all start or play significant minutes.
Wiseman, who added 15 pounds to his rangy frame; Achiuwa and Ellis all turned heads. With this cast and talented sophomore guards Alex Lawson and Tyler Harris, it hasn’t taken long for the buzz to take hold among locals, who expect a magical season in the Bluff City.
Memphis has been ranked as high as No. 6 in some preseason polls. The Tigers are No. 14 in the preseason AP poll and No. 15 in the coaches’ poll.
”Everywhere you go, people are talking about Memphis basketball,’’ Achiuwa said. “Where I’m from in New York City, nobody talks about college basketball. Just knowing you have a whole town behind your back supporting you is amazing.’’
All of this is a tribute to Hardaway, a beloved figure who grew up in Memphis, was the Parade Magazine National player of the Year at Treadwell High, became a two time All-American at Memphis before declaring for the NBA draft, was a four-time NBA All-Star and a member of the 1996 Olympic team. After retirement, Hardaway returned to the city to coach middle school, summer travel ball in the Nike EBYL, then coached Memphis East to three straight Tennessee state high school championships in before becoming the head coach at his alma mater in the spring of 2018.
Hardaway led the Tigers to 22-14 record and a spot in the NIT in his first year. Now, he is shooting for the stars and making bold predictions for his talented, young team, provided his gifted freshmen can adjust to the physicality of the college game and upgrade the team's defense.
“What do I know?’’ he said in a story published by The Athletic. “I know when I have something special. When I see this group in action, see their abilities, I know what’s at stake and I know what’s out there. The teams like Michigan State, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, all the usual subjects. I’ve studied the film. I know who they are, but when I look at this group, I just say to myself. ‘We’re going to win a national championship.’ That’s what I know.’’
That would make American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco happy. UConn won the NCAA title in 2014, the conference’s first season, but the league has not had a bona fide championship contender since.
In 2018, Houston had national finalist Michigan on the ropes in an NCAA second-round game before Wolverines’ freshman Jordan Poole broke their hearts with a 3-point prayer at the buzzer of a 64-63 loss in Wichita.
That same year, second-seeded Cincinnati lost a 22-point lead in a 77-75 second round defeat to Nevada in Atlanta.
Then, last year, UCF coach Johnny Dawkins, a former national Player of the Year at Duke, had a three-point lead on his alma mater with just 15 seconds to play, but Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett made two big plays to lift the Blue Devils to a 77-76 second round victory. The 2018-19 regular season champion Houston played Kentucky even until the final minute of a 62-58 loss in a Sweet 16 game in Kansas City.
The American has a legitimate shot of getting a number of teams into the tournament again. Memphis, Houston, Cincinnati and Wichita State enter as the strongest preseason contenders, while USF, UConn and Temple could all step up.
“I think our league is undervalued,” said Aresco. “But we need to get a team to the Final Eight.’’
Memphis appears to have the biggest upside, based on the way ESPN and the national media have flocked to visit the Tigers.
But this is a league whose coaches value experience. When The American released its preseason coaches’ poll on media day, seven picked Houston — a team that lost four starters-- to win the conference, perhaps a nod to the ability of Sampson to keep the Cougars at the top of the standings. Four selected Memphis, but the two teams wound up tied for first.
In addition, Wiseman was the only Memphis player selected to the league’s preseason all-conference team. Conversely, USF, picked to finish fifth, had three players listed and UConn, picked to finish sixth, had two players listed.
If nothing else, it should give Hardaway some newfound talking points to motivate his team headed into this season.