Memphis a finalist for handful of top 25 recruits
Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2021, announced Friday that Memphis is among seven schools whose offers he's still seriously considering.
The five-star, 7-foot center from Minnesota is the second top 15 recruit to include the Tigers in his final cut-down list. Point guard JD Davison (6-3, 175), ranked 13th in the country by 247 Sports, revealed his top 10 Thursday.
The other schools on Holmgren's list are Michigan, Minnesota, Gonzaga, Ohio State, Georgetown and North Carolina. Still in the running for Davison's services are Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kansas, Alabama, LSU and Louisville.
Memphis, which is still working to finalize its 2020 signing class, is in a favorable position with a number of highlevel 2021 prospects. Five-star small forward Harrison Ingram (6-6, 220) included the Tigers in his top 10, which he announced on May 11. Ingram is currently ranked 15th in the 2021 class. Fourstar combo guard Jalen Warley (6-4, 175), ranked 22nd, put Memphis in his top 10, which he revealed on June 7.
Holmgren, who told 247 Sports in May he conducted a Zoom meeting with the Memphis coaching staff, has already shown up on at least one 2022 NBA mock draft. Although he's classified as a center, Holmgren possesses unique perimeter skills for a natural big. He is an above-average ball-handler and longrange shooter.
Davison, Alabama's reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, hit the gamewinning shot to clinch the Class 2A State Championship for Calhoun in February. As a junior last season, he averaged 30.4 points, 12 rebounds and five assists per game.
Besides Memphis, Ingram's list includes Arkansas, Baylor, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina, Purdue,
Stanford, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The St. Mark's (Dallas) star took an unofficial visit to Memphis on March 5, when the Tigers beat Wichita State in their home finale. Ingram led St. Mark's to a Texas state title, averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds and just shy of eight assists a game.
Warley, a Norristown (Pa.) Westtown star, has Michigan, Virginia, Ohio State, Oregon, Memphis, LSU, Louisville, Miami,
Maryland and Florida State in his top 10.
It remains to be seen whether any of these recruits will attend college or opt to take the G League route like Jalen Green, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2020.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.