NCAA Basketball: Top 25 preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

The offseason was going fairly normal for Memphis, losing a few players to the transfer portal but able to land former top-30 prospect Earl Timberlake from Miami, along with former Oregon commits, Chandler and Johnathan Lawson. With both Landers Nolley and Deandre Williams coming back for another year, it looked as if this team would compete for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, but likely start out outside of the top-25.

That projection changed dramatically in the past couple of months. It started when Jalen Duren, who rose up the class of 2022 rankings to No. 1 overall at one point, reclassified to play this upcoming season and eventually picking Memphis over both Kentucky and Miami. He’s a 6’11 forward/center with tremendous offensive potential and will be one of the best frontcourt scorers in the country.

And somehow the Tigers were able to outdo that news by also landing Emoni Bates, who has been compared to the great LeBron James in terms of potential coming out of high school. Those expectations are probably too high at the moment but Bates still is a top-tier talent, listed at 6’9, and can do just about everything a perimeter player can do. His shot-making ability is next to none and he can handle the ball as well.

Bates could very well be part of a point guard committee for Memphis this season, along with Timberlake and last season’s starter, Alex Lomax. There’s a ton of talent now on this roster and they probably have the two best players in the American in Bates and Duren. Williams’ versatility will come in handy at the forward spot, while Nolley should be able to score much easier as the 3rd or 4th offensive option now.

It’s up to head coach Penny Hardaway to make this all work but in terms of potential, Memphis may be at the top if the pieces can fit together.