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Looking to reel in its third commitment this month, the University of Memphis is hosting top-50 2017 Georgia forward prospect Rayshaun Hammonds on an official visit this weekend.
Hammonds, an athletic 6-foot-7, 215-pound combo forward out of Norcross High, began his visit to the U of M on Friday morning.
Memphis has already picked up commitments this month from four-star Alabama combo guard Jamal Johnson (6-4, 180) and threestar Florida small forward David Nickelberry (6-7, 205). Johnson and Nickelberry each had visits planned to other schools after their trip to Memphis, but both prospects canceled those plans and committed to the Tigers shortly after visiting the U of M.
Memphis is hoping it can sway Hammonds, whom ESPN.com ranks the No. 38 overall prospect in the Class of 2017, to do the same. The left-handed forward averaged 18.1 points and 7.9 rebounds on Nike’s prestigious Elite Youth Basketball League circuit this spring. As a junior at Norcross last season, he averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds.
ESPN.com’s scouting report on Hammonds describes him as a “high-major talent that plays with good energy and urgency and possesses excellent upside.”
Memphis is Hammonds’ first official visit. He’s also scheduled to visit Miami, Alabama, Connecticut and Texas. Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State and Western Kentucky are also in the mix to land him.
New Tigers coach Tubby Smith’s 2017 class is currently ranked 33rd nationally by 247Sports.com and No. 2 in the American Athletic Conference behind UConn. Adding Hammonds would put Smith in position to bring in one of the top 2017 classes in the country next season.