Top recruit Wiseman chooses hometown Memphis

MEMPHIS, TENN. >> James Wiseman has chosen Memphis and his former high school coach, Penny Hardaway, over Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Kansas and Florida State.

Wiseman announced Tuesday on ESPN.

The 7-foot center is the No. 1 recruit in the nation for the 2019 class according to a composite ranking of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports . Wiseman made his announcement after making an official visit to all five of his final options.

Wiseman averaged 17 points and nine rebounds last season helping East High and Hardaway win Tennessee’s Class AAA championship. Hardaway was hired by Memphis to take over at his alma mater soon after that title game, and the former NBA star also coached Wiseman on the AAU level with Team Penny.

Wiseman’s decision pushed Memphis up to eighth with three commitments for 2019, a spot behind Kentucky.

Wildcats coach John Calipari says, “We don’t get every kid. We get the ones that we’re supposed to get, and it just kind of plays out that way, it always has.” his decision

Syracuse signs Westtown’s Ajak

SYRACUSE, N.Y. >> Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has announced four players have signed national letters of intent to play for the Orange next season.

The group includes 6-foot-10 center John Bol Ajak and three guards — Brycen Goodine of Rhode Island, Quincy Guerrier of Montreal, and 6-1 Joseph Girard of Glens Falls, already the all-time scoring leader in New York state history with 3,306 points and one more season to play.

Ajak, a native of Sudan, plays at The Westtown School and also played AAU for Team Final on the Nike EYBL.