No. 1 recruit Wiseman signs with Memphis
Coach Hardaway says coveted player is a Tiger
Penny Hardaway has never seen a unicorn. “Have you?” he asked. But the coach now has one signed in the Memphis basketball 2019 recruiting class.
The Tigers officially signed James Wiseman, the No. 1 class of 2019 recruit, on Thursday, according to Hardaway.
“The paperwork went through today," Hardaway said.
A University of Memphis athletics spokesperson confirmed that the document signed was a national letter of intent. It is a binding agreement.
Wiseman committed to Memphis on Nov. 20 over Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida State and Kansas. The East High School star announced the decision by presenting a stuffed unicorn wrapped in a blue ribbon with the Memphis logo.
The 7-foot center is a noted member of "Unicorn Fam," a group several 2019 and 2020 recruits created. The group's name comes from each member's one-of-a-kind basketball abilities.
Hardaway coached Wiseman for one season at East before taking the job as the Memphis coach. The coach credited his previous relationship with Wiseman for the recruit's commitment.
"Not knowing that I was going to
get this job, I was basically just trying to get him to a point where he competed at a high level on both ends of the floor," Hardaway said. "... That takes a lot. So, I leaned on my relationship with him a lot."
Early in Wiseman's recruitment, Hardaway said his confidence that the No. 1 player would end up at Memphis was "100 percent," but that number declined when Wiseman told him that he still wanted to use all of his official visits.
"I thought, myself, that it was open and shut, like 'OK, I've coached him, he understands what he means to me and what I mean to him,'" Hardaway said.
"But, he has a right to go on those other visits and see those other schools. I was excited when he went ahead and told me that he was going to commit to us."
Hardaway said he doesn't know how many No. 1 recruits have committed to Memphis — but the former Tigers star added that he was once No. 1.
"To be able to do that now is great," Hardaway said. "Because now other guys around the country are going to go, 'Wow, Memphis might be the place for us to go.'"
Hardaway pointed out that high school players often recruit each other, using Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski as an example.
The Tigers are also recruiting fivestar 2019 prospects Precious Achiuwa, Matthew Hurt and Trendon Watford.
"Hopefully he brings a couple more five-star guys with him," Hardaway said.
Wiseman averaged 17 points and nine rebounds a year ago in helping lead the Mustangs to a Class AAA state championship. The Tigers also have four-star recruits D.J. Jeffries and Malcolm Dandridge signed in the class of 2019.
Hardaway said he was working out at the Memphis practice facility when Wiseman's announcement appeared on ESPN, but he knew of Wiseman's decision a couple days prior.
"To be able to go and get Maclom Dandridge, D.J. Jeffries and James Wiseman is amazing," Hardaway said. "It's setting the tone for where we want to go."