NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 2020 F Isaiah Todd’s final five
By Brian Rauf
Memphis Tigers
I really think that Memphis is a legitimate dark horse in Todd’s recruitment and may end up being a very serious player by the end of it.
The appeal of Memphis and the way they’re pitching Todd is obvious. He’d get to play for a coach who has been where he wants to be (an NBA All-Star) in Penny Hardaway, who has turned the Tigers into the country’s trendy program with his edge and his recruiting efforts.
Memphis brought in the nation’s top recruiting and, should all go well on the court this year, Hardaway will be able to parlay that momentum into another top group. And, if they are indeed successful, they’ll likely do it with two players who will provide the blueprint for how Hardaway would use Todd in James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa.
Wiseman, like Todd, is a slender, versatile big man who can handle the ball and make shots on the perimeter. He’s more comfortable in the post , but the who share similar skills. Achiuwa’s skill set isn’t as defined as Todd’s but he’s an uber-athletic 6-9 wing. He might provide the mold for how Todd would be used when he plays on the perimeter.
While Memphis has the advantage of being the new trendy program, there’s also more potential negatives with them than any other team on this list. They’re the only one that doesn’t play in a Power 6 conference and all the momentum the program has picked up under Hardaway could fall by the wayside with a few losses.
The longer Todd’s recruitment goes, the better it will be for Memphis. If they can have a good year, Todd – and several other five-star guys – will take a very serious look at the Tigers.