Memphis Head Coach Tubby Smith and his Memphis Tigers coaching staff have been very busy on the recruiting trail over the past few weeks, and they’re work is paying off, as evident by the recent signings of first team junior college All-American’s Kareem Brewton and Kyvon Davenport.
Smith and his staff most recently visited Southwest Christian Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas where they were able to meet with their Head Coach Charles Baker, while viewing 2017 prospect Malden Armus, a 6’9 big man who made his way to the U.S. from Serbia back in August. Armus was not alone in the gym as among other prospects the Tigers staff was probably salivating over the potential of 2018 6’7 small forward Gabriel Osabuohien, who is a native of Toronto, Canada and is ultra-athletic and skilled.
Gabriel Osabuohien Highlights from Battle of the Border
The Tigers are still looking to add a big man and a guard to their 2017 recruiting which also includes freshman guard Jamal Johnson, small forward David Nickelberry, and power forward Victor Enoh. Throw in 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman center Karim Azab, and the Memphis Tigers are essentially bringing in a new team next season as their only returning scholarship players will be junior point guard Jeremiah Martin, and senior forward Jimario Rivers.
Nontheless, Tubby Smith has proven as of late that not only is he seeking to add reinforcements, but that he’s willing to recruit some of the top available prospects for the class of 2017.
Arkansas’s Coach Mike Anderson and his staff are also rumored to be recruiting Armus, who is known as a big man who understands how to play the game at a high level. According to Kevin McPherson of SportingLifeArkansas.com Armus is a hot commodity, “Mladen Armus is a 6-9 power forward / center who is big, strong, and knows how to use his frame to clear out space inside for rebounds and scoring opportunities. Not a leaper, but moves well laterally and is active. He’s also skilled enough to play facing the basket, and shows good vision passing down low from the high post and passing to cutters when he is posted down low.”
If the Tigers are able to add a forward/center to complement what they currently have on-board for the 2017 recruiting class, the Tigers may be better than advertised next season.
