NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Pennsylvania of last decade
By Joey Loose
9. Jalen Duren – Memphis
A 5-star prospect and one of the best recruits in the class, Duren was one of the crown jewels of Penny Hardaway’s recruiting success at Memphis. A 6’11 center from Sharon Hill, he spent this past season starring for the Tigers, contributing on a season in which Memphis finally got over the postseason hump and Duren was able to showcase his talents as well.
Across that freshman campaign, Duren averaged 12.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, leading a deep and talented Tigers roster in both statistics. He had a number of impressive performances, including a 22-point, 19-rebound effort against Western Kentucky and a 21-point, 20-rebound performance versus UCF in the AAC Tournament. He had a double-double in an NCAA Tournament win over Boise State and helped push the Tigers to a near-upset of Gonzaga.
Duren was named First Team All-AAC as well as the conference’s Rookie of the Year. He’s a fantastically talented young athlete who was an impressive interior threat for the Tigers, ranking among the most efficient players and best rebounders in the league. The blue-chip prospect’s satisfactory season saw him drafted 13th overall this past summer and he’ll suit up next season in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons.