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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Biggest winners and losers from 2019 classes

By Tristan Freeman

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers, watches the action during the game against the Charleston Cougars at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers, watches the action during the game against the Charleston Cougars at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 23: The mascot for the Memphis Tigers performs against the Michigan State Spartans during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Palace of Auburn Hills on March 23, 2013 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 23: The mascot for the Memphis Tigers performs against the Michigan State Spartans during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Palace of Auburn Hills on March 23, 2013 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No. 1 Winner – Memphis Tigers

It feels like forever ago since John Calipari was with the Tigers in Conference USA, bringing in the likes of Derrick Rose to the program. But after he left for Kentucky, Memphis couldn’t keep up the high level of recruiting. But around a year ago, the program made the controversial move to fire Tubby Smith and bring in Penny Hardaway, a former NBA great whose AAU ties made him an appealing option.

It turned out to be a great move, grabbing the commitment of James Wiseman, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2019 class. He and fellow four-star prospects DJ Jeffries Malcolm Dandridge alone would’ve been enough for a great recruiting class but clearly Coach Hardaway wasn’t done.

While Virginia was the on the court national champions, Memphis has clearly been the 2019 offseason champs. They benefitted from Boogie Ellis leaving Duke and grabbed his signature, and landed top-60 shooting guard Lester Quinones as well. Then five-star forward Precious Achiuwa picked the Tigers in a surprising move over Kansas and was in the running for RJ Hampton late as well. This doesn’t even include that 20 ppg scorer Rayjon Tucker electing to play for this team before opting to go pro due to academic issues.

Memphis now has seven recruits ranked in the top-112 overall in this class, going No. 1 overall as a program ahead of both Duke and Kentucky. They’ll have to show that they can mesh on the court before we can be certain that this class becomes a trend. AAC teams outside of Memphis for sure hopes this is a blip. But the offseason is about hope and hype and for now, no fan base has more of that heading into 2019-20 more so than the Memphis Tigers.

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