NCAA Basketball: Class of 2022’s No. 2 recruit Jalen Duren release top 11 list
By Ian Mumm
Memphis Tigers
Head coach Penny Hardaway has become a magnet for top frontcourt talent out of the high school ranks. Signing James Wiseman, the class of 2019’s #1 overall recruit and the #2 overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, followed by 5-star center Moussa Cisse in back-to-back years certainly set up the Tigers nicely leading into the 2019 and 2020 seasons respectively. Although neither campaign resulted in huge successes on the court, the ability of Hardaway to attract talent to the program cannot be underestimated.
Recent news has emerged that Cisse intends to transfer from the program opening up a prime opportunity for another play to take control of the spot heading into next season. While the team is currently capable of relying on Deandre Williams, Malcolm Dandridge, Chandler Lawson and 4-star 2021 center Sam Ayomide to fight through next season, the outlook is not as fruitful entering 2022.
Williams, the team’s top frontcourt option, will likely be in a position to explore professional opportunities if he is able to continue with his level of production after next season. The remaining options for the Tigers are not proven at the level Wiseman provided and Cisse was expected to contribute.
Hardaway will be going hard after Duren to help anchor the loss of top-end talent on his team and build the ideal roster heading into 2022. Duren provides a lot of the same two-way upside that Wiseman brought to the court for Memphis in 2019 and will instantly make life easier for the Tigers guards. It’s just unlikely Memphis becomes the top option for Duren when looking down the rest of the list.