When Penny Hardaway became the head basketball coach at the University of Memphis, one of his main goals was to put the program back in the national spotlight. Well he seems to have accomplished that task because Memphis Tigers basketball took center stage at the Jordan Brand Classic this weekend for a couple of reasons.
1. James Wiseman & D.J. Jeffries
Whenever you have two of the top 30 recruits in the nation signed to your program (with one of those being #1 in the 2019 class), its going to bring a lot of attention. You compound that with them playing on the same team & James Wiseman being awarded Co-MVP honors (21pts 6rebs)….This all equals a winning combinaton for Tigers. But this was not the only storyline to watch if your a Tigers fan.
2. The Recruitment of Trendon Watford
The recruitment of 5 star 2019 prospect Trendon Watford has been an interesting one to follow if your a Memphis fan. The 6 foot 8 Watford was also a participant in the Jordan Brand Classic. He was featured on the same team as Memphis signees James Wiseman & DJ Jeffies. At one point he was slated to make his decision on Saturday during the game but has pushed the date back.
Watford talked about being recruited by Memphis as well as Wiseman & Jeffires.
Trendon Watford to The Commercial Appeal
“D.J. Jeffries and James Wiseman have been recruiting me just as hard as (Memphis assistant Mike Miller),” Watford said before the game. “They want me to be their teammate. They feel like if I come we can be one of the best teams in the country. I feel like if I do come we could be pretty good.”
The next few week are going to very interesting for the Mmephis Tigers because on Monday, another 5 star recruit Precious Achewa is coming to make his official visit. Many are projecting the Tigers as the favorites in that raced as well. You have to wonder how the recruitment of Trendon will be effected.
