Memphis Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season

Small forward

Starter: Emoni Bates

Yet another wing position at which the Tigers have an abundance of options. Emoni Bates enters college without the “once in a lifetime” billing he once had years ago, but with an arsenal of scoring moves that can help Memphis win.

Bates is a 6’8″, 200-pound tough shot taker with the ability to scorch the earth at a moment’s notice and a full bag of step-back jumpers, crossover drives, and post-fadeaways.

When he gets going, he and Chet Holmgren are the only two freshmen in the country capable of dominating a game by themselves.

But with the bag comes the baggage, and Bates may bring both. His stock took a slight dip nationally this year, after a poor stretch of shooting on the national circuit. He played for a handful of teams and had moments where he carried his team to wins and moments where he shot his team out of games.

Bates will start every game and could easily lead Memphis in scoring, but it will be fascinating to see how he is used. In prep ball, Bates hasn’t played in a very structured offense, and that might not change in college under Hardaway.

Whether that’s a perfect fit or a poor one will be anybody’s guess.

Bench: Earl Timberlake

Behind Bates is Earl Timberlake, a former top-30 recruit in the country who transfers to Memphis after just one season at Miami.

Timberlake appeared in just seven games for the Hurricanes before succumbing to shoulder injuries and being shut down for the season.

In his short stint on the floor, he showed flashes of being able to do a bit of everything, averaging 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals in 27.4 minutes per game.

Along with Nolley, Quinones, and Bates, Timberlake solidifies the Tigers’ wings as arguably the best group in the country. The competition will be fierce, but all four will get their chances to make an impact.