Recruiting Recap: Memphis Tigers

In just his second season as the head coach at Memphis, Penny Hardaway is already blazing through the recruiting trail. Despite striking out top-5 prospect R.J. Hampton -- who had an offer from the Tigers but elected to play overseas this season in New Zealand -- Hardaway still cranked out the consensus top recruiting class in the country. 

As a result, Hardaway will likely be starting at least three freshmen to open up the 2019-20 season, and those three freshmen could make for one of the most talented, daunting frontcourts in all of college basketball. 

It has been six years since Memphis made the NCAA Tournament and 10 since the program made a Sweet 16, but it's clear that a new era of Memphis basketball is upon us, and it starts with this trio of lengthy and athletic freshmen.

James Wiseman, C, 7-0, 230 pounds

Wiseman was the consensus No. 1 high school prospect from the 2019 class, and given the big man's skill set, it's easy to understand why. Boasting a 7-foot, 230-pound frame and a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Wiseman has the physical tools and skills that teams crave in a center for the modern game. 

Offensively, Wiseman has proven he has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor, but the big man is going to be most effective and efficient around the rim. While most of his shots in the paint will likely finish with a thundering dunk over the defender, Wiseman has shown to have a soft touch when finishing close to the basket, whether it be in the pick-and-roll game, in transition, off a post move or playing clean up on missed shots. Wiseman also boasts a promising face-up game, excelling as both a mid-range and three-point shooter at the high school level. 

Wiseman will be at his best when his athleticism is on full display. His frame and well-above-average leaping ability allow him to be dominant on the glass and swallow up any rebound within reach. He also is terrific in transition for someone his size, as he has good enough speed to keep pace with anybody while running the floor for easy buckets. Most notably, however, is Wiseman's dominance as a rim protector, as he not only has the length but the instincts and timing to consistently block and alter shot attempts. 

Wiseman's skill set combined with the opportunity he should get as the starting center at Memphis could make for a monster statistical season as a freshman. While the big man will be surrounded by a number of talented first-year players, he will be a rebounding hog and get plenty of second-chance points when the offense isn't flowing through him, which it likely will be most of the time. On the other side of the ball, he should rack up plenty of blocks and deflections that potentially lead to easy transition buckets. 

Precious Achiuwa, PF, 6-9, 210 pounds

Likely starting alongside Wiseman in the frontcourt is Achiuwa, an explosive power forward who it at his best when he's attacking the basket. Achiuwa is a consensus top-20 prospect in the 2019 class and should serve as a terrific pairing next to Wiseman this coming season. 

Achiuwa boasts a 6-foot-9, 215-pound frame, but what sets him apart is his 7-foot-2 wingspan. With his size and athleticism, the McDonald's All-American is going to be a matchup nightmare at the college level with his ability to overpower smaller defenders while taking larger defenders off the dribble with terrific handle on the ball for someone his size. Achiuwa was an unstoppable force attacking and finishing at the basket on the high school level, and he does a lot of that finishing above the rim as a prolific dunker. His length and athleticism also allows him to be a tenacious rebounder and elite shot blocker for his position. 

But the physical tools are nothing without a motor, and one thing that Achiuwa will bring every night is a high level of intensity. It's a huge part of what makes Achiuwa such an intriguing prospect, as not only is he going to be longer and more athletic than most of the players at his position, but he is also going to outwork and out-hustle them. 

Achiuwa does have a solid face-up game and strong mechanics and range on his jump shot, but scouts have noted that he does struggle with his shot selection at times, which can be the downfall of that high intensity he plays with. Achiuwa catches himself going downhill towards the basket on plenty of occasions, and while those drives to the rim typically end in a bucket, he does have the tendency to force a shot that's not there. 

At the very least, much like his running mate in the frontcourt, Achiuwa should be a rebound hog at the college level, and with his effectiveness on the offensive glass, the power forward has the ability to be a double-double machine in his first season (so long as Wiseman doesn't get in his way too often). Achiuwa should have no issues racking up points, especially with his ability to get to the free throw line, and blocks in bunches at the next level, and his ability to guard at least three different positions on the floor should give him some staying power on the court as a freshman.

D.J. Jeffries, SF, 6-7, 210 pounds

This Memphis starting frontcourt continues to be all about length and athleticism. While Jeffries has just a 6-foot-9 wingspan to go along with his 6-foot-7, 200-pound frame, he plays much bigger than his measurables suggest due to his strong, mature frame and elite bounce. 

Jeffries is your prototypical modern wing with the ability to score inside and out. He doesn't have the tightest handle for his position, making attacking the basket a challenge when the defense is solid, but he's terrific when utilizing open space in front of him. And when Jeffries does find himself around the rim, he plays above it with no trouble at all. In terms of his outside scoring ability, Jeffries' mechanics on his jump shot certainly aren't perfect, but his length and terrific elevation make his jumper nearly impossible to defend. 

Unlike his teammate Achiuwa, scouts have questioned Jeffries' motor and his tendency to disappear at times. Needing to develop a consistent motor is certainly nothing new for a young college player, however, and with the amount of talent Jeffries' will be surrounded by in his first season at Memphis, he may be able to get away with it at times at the next level. 

But an engaged Jeffries could be what Memphis ends up needing to take them to an elite level, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Like his counterparts in the frontcourt, a locked-in, motivated Jeffries is an elite, versatile defender given his length and athleticism. Jeffries has the ability to guard at least three positions on the court and putting him in a unit with Wiseman and Achiuwa would make opponents' lives miserable around the basket. 

In the end, Jeffries being the clear third option in Memphis' expected starting frontcourt likely means there is a bit of a cap placed on his production. However, reports are already surfacing out of the Tigers' offseason Bahamas tour that Jeffries has been one of the team's standout performers. With Achiuwa and Wiseman expected to be doing most of their work on the inside and requiring plenty of attention defensively, Jeffries will be relied on for his floor spacing and should get plenty of open three-point opportunities when all three are on the floor.