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Memphis Basketball: 3 reasons why Tigers will win AAC title in 2019-20

By Jason Burgess

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers reacts against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers reacts against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa attend the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019 in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for Powerade)
MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa attend the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019 in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for Powerade) /

1. Greatest group of incoming freshmen in the country

The first and most obvious reason that Memphis should be the pick to win the AAC are the newcomers that will don the Tigers uniform this season. Hardaway has brought in the nation’s top recruiting class for the upcoming season and there is no debate about that. The class consists of seven signees, according to 247Sports, the Tigers welcome two five-star and five four-star recruits and five of them are ranked in the top-60 nationally.

The class is led by No.1 prospect and potential No. 1 pick in the NBA James Wiseman who is a 7-1 center with off-the-charts athleticism who played for Hardaway at East High School in Memphis. Another recruit that also played for Hardaway is Malcolm Dandridge who is a 6-9 center with a little more bulk than Wiseman, outweighing him by about 10lbs. The frontcourt will be supplemented by another five-star forward, the 6-9 small forward Precious Achiuwa out of Montverde Academy in Florida. Joining Achiuwa is the 6-7 power forward D.J. Jeffries who comes to Memphis from Mississippi where he averaged over 23 points, 12 points, fives assists, and two blocks as a senior.

Hardaway also brings in three four-star guards for his backcourt. Boogie Ellis is a 6-3 combo guard from California who averaged 24 points, six rebounds, and six assists as a junior. Damion Baugh is another 6-3 guard who is from Nashville but played his final two seasons before college at Tennessee Prep Academy in Memphis where he recorded 10 triple-doubles as a senior. Lester Quinones is a 6-5 shooting guard who played at IMG Academy in Florida last season, prior to that he was a teammate of Achiuwa at St. Benedict’s in New Jersey.

The freshmen aren’t the only newcomers to the program, the Tigers also have three players coming off redshirt seasons. Ryan Boyce is another big guard, he measures 6-6, who also played for Hardaway at East High School and Hardaway’s son Jayden is a 6-5 guard, both players will be redshirt-freshmen. Lance Thomas is another big-bodied forward at 6-9 224lbs. who enters his sophomore season after playing one year at Louisville in 2018.