NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Evaluating Jay Scrubb’s top three schools

Memphis Tigers

Speaking of programs with momentum, no one enters the 2019-20 season with more of it than Memphis. However, unlike Louisville, their season is going to be seen as either a huge success or a failure with no in between.

Head coach Penny Hardaway has brought in the nation’s top recruiting class, headlined by five-star prospects James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa. He’s proven he can attract high-level talent and prefers to have big guards, and Scrubb fits the mold to a tee.

The Tigers are another team that will be ranked in the top 10 in the preseason, but Hardaway doesn’t have Mack’s resume to fall back on. He’s still in his first tenure as a collegiate head coach and this coming season, with this recruiting class, will be viewed as an indictment – positively or negatively – on his ability to do the job.

If Memphis has a successful season, they’ll continue to be the “hot” program in the eyes of recruits, giving Hardaway the tools to turn them into a national power. Scrubb would likely be part of another high-level recruiting class

If Memphis has a down season, everything around this program will shift. And, if Hardaway isn’t able to win with a roster full of NBA talent, there will be questions about this ability to develop that talent – something that is important to Scrubb with his eyes on the NBA.

No matter what happens, Wiseman and Achiuwa (and potentially a couple of others) will likely leave for the NBA. They’ll have a void Scrubb could fill. However, unlike Louisville, Memphis’ departures are expected to mostly be in the frontcourt, meaning he may not have as big of a role. His willingness to accept a potentially lesser role may depend on the direction of the program under Hardaway.

Scrubb has the size, shooting, and skills to make an immediate impact no matter where he ends up. That said, all three of these schools currently have different situations to offer the coveted JUCO prospect.