By Trent Shadid
Memphis head basketball coach Penny Hardaway didn’t become an All-American, a first-round NBA draft pick, a 1996 Olympic gold medalist and a four-time NBA All-Star by shying away from high expectations.
Rather, he’s spent every turn in his life — a life full of basketball success — meeting the expectations head-on. It’s part of who he is and what he became growing up in Memphis and playing for the program he now leads.
The expectations he faces now are a result of the work he and his assistants have done on the recruiting trail. Hardaway and Co. have brought the No. 1 2019 recruiting class in the nation to campus.
The group is formed by seven of the very best players in the country. That’s shifted an immense amount of focus to the University of Memphis as basketball season draws closer. For Hardaway, that’s at least one very big mission accomplished.
“We want everything to be about Memphis,” Hardaway said. “That’s what this city wants. That’s what we want. That’s who we are. We don’t want to shy away from anything. We want this type of a group because we want to win a national championship.
“If we’re going to hang our first banner in this building — or especially downtown
at FedExForum — we are going to have to get talent. With talent comes expectations,
and that’s what we want.”
James Wiseman — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2019 class — could have gone to play for any of the top basketball schools in the country. The same is true for Precious Achiuwa, also a top 10 overall recruit in the class. D.J. Jeffries chose Memphis over Kentucky. Boogie Ellis decided the Tigers were a better option for him than Duke. Lester Quinones turned down Indiana on decision day. Malcolm Dandridge never had any doubts as he quickly became Hardaway’s first commitment. Damion Baugh went with Memphis over 2019 national runner-up Texas Tech.
The Tigers aren’t just competing against the blue bloods of college basketball for the best players, they are beating them.
“What we’ve done (with this class) has been nothing short of amazing,” Hardaway said.
“To be able to land the No. 1 recruiting class in the country is a blessing. I wanted
this so badly for so many reasons.
“This is what the fans wanted, this is what the city needed, this is what the school needed … for us to be relevant again around the country in a positive light.”
For Hardaway, this recruiting class also provides some national vindication in regard to his ability as a recruiter. While he never doubted the top high school players from all over the country would sign to play for his Tigers, many outside voices — particularly other coaches and some members of the media — weren’t so sure. The freshman class includes players from four different states — one each from California and Mississippi, two from New York and three from Tennessee.
“I think everybody thought it was just going to be a show when I took over,” Hardaway said. “They thought it was just going to be local kids, and I was going to have a problem recruiting around the country. They definitely underestimated what we can do.”
No one is underestimating Hardaway’s recruiting ability now. He’s emphatically proven himself on that front.
But now, the focus has shifted to bringing this team of extraordinary talents together. With that comes another set of lofty expectations, which of course, Hardaway is embracing.
“I can’t make any predictions,” Hardaway said. “I just know we have as good of talent as anyone. It’s up to us as a staff to try and bring that together as fast as we can.”
2019 Recruiting Class
James Wiseman
7-1 | Center
Hometown: Nashville | Previous school: East High School (Memphis)
Highlights
• No. 1 overall recruit in the 2019 class
• Gatorade National Player of the Year
• Averaged 25.8 points, 14.8 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game as a high school senior
Precious Achiuwa
6-9 | Forward
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y. | Previous school: Montverde Academy (Fla.)
Highlights
• No. 9 overall recruit in the 2019 class
• McDonald's All-American
• Chose Memphis over finalists Kansas, North Carolina, UConn and Georgia
Boogie Ellis
6-3 | Guard
Hometown: San Diego | Previous school: Mission Bay High School
Highlights
• No. 32 overall recruit in the 2019 class
• Jordan Brand All-American
• Had a 51-point game and a 43-point game as a high school senior
D.J. Jeffries
6-7 | Forward
Hometown: Olive Branch, Miss | Previous school: Olive Branch High School
Highlights
• No. 49 overall recruit in the 2019 class
• No. 1 recruit from Mississippi in the 2019 class
• Averaged 23.3 points and 12.8 rebounds as a high school senior
Lester Quinones
6-5 | Guard
Hometown: Brentwood, NY | Previous school: IMG Academy (FL)
Highlights
• No. 57 overall recruit in the 2019 class
• Averaged 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists as a high school senior
• Chose Memphis over finalists Indiana, Maryland, Michigan and LSU
Malcolm Dandridge
6-9 | Center
Hometown: Memphis | Previous school: East High School
Highlights
• No. 102 overall recruit in the 2019 class
• First commitment for Penny Hardaway after he was named coach in 2018
• Chose Memphis over a list of offers that included Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and
Tennessee
Damion Baugh
6-3 | Guard
Hometown: Nashville | Previous school: Tennessee Prep Academy (Memphis)
Highlights
• No. 112 overall recruit in the 2019 class
• Recorded 10 triple-doubles as a high school senior
• Chose Memphis over finalists TCU and Texas Tech
What the nation is saying about the 2019-20 Tigers:
“They’re back in a big way, and it only took a little over a year to completely turn this program around.” — Scott Van Pelt, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
“What (Hardaway’s) done, in short order, is return Memphis to the national conversation and establish himself as a force in the sport.” – Gary Parrish, CBS Sports
“(Hardaway) has the momentum that nobody else has in the country right now.” – Jeff Goodman, Stadium
“Welcome back, Memphis basketball. James Wiseman picks Tigers. Penny Hardaway just sent a city into a frenzy. Again.” – Dana O’Neil, The Athletic
“Can Hardaway land elite recruits? Will Hardaway bring excitement back to Memphis basketball? It's a resounding yes.” – Jeff Borzello, ESPN.com
