Memphis ‘definitely’ in mix for Quinones
It sounds like Memphis basketball signee James Wiseman might have some more recruiting to do this spring.
While the current Tigers were in Tampa last Saturday to take on South Florida, Memphis assistant coach Mike Miller also used the trip to do some recruiting in the area.
One of the players Miller stopped to watch was four-star IMG Academy guard Lester Quinones, who said the Tigers started to show interest in him a little over two months ago. How could he forget? “With it being Mike Miller, such a great shooting coach and the great shooter that he was, it was good to hear that call from him,” Quinones said. “Then, around the same time, my guy James (Wiseman) committed there.”
Wiseman and Quinones have exchanged text messages in the past. However, Quinones said he suspects the Tigers signee hasn’t yet realized that coach Penny Hardaway’s staff is giving him a look.
Last month, Wiseman said he was working to recruit as many of the top players as he could to join him at Memphis. Perhaps Quinones, a top 10 shooting guard in his class, will be next.
“Having (Wiseman) there, the No. 1 player and center, is great as far as being able to team up with him,” Quinones added. “I feel like me coming off a ball screen with him could be pretty unstoppable with his athleticism and length, and with my ability to shoot and create. ... Whether it’s feeding the ball down to him, or him kicking it out to me, I feel like we could be a dominant duo at the next level.”
Wiseman, D.J. Jeffries, and Malcolm Dandridge make up the Tigers’ current 2019 recruiting class, but Memphis is still looking to add a guard (and more) to that mix of forwards with seniors Jeremiah Martin and Kareem Brewton Jr. set to graduate this spring.
“With me being a great shooter, they’ve said that’s the piece they are missing right now,” Quinones said. “They also said they have players graduating, so they need someone to come in and play right away that fits their system.”
The 6-foot-5 guard is rated the No. 64 overall prospect and No. 9 shooting guard in 247Sports’ class of 2019 composite rankings.
“I feel like with Miller’s experience at the level where I’m trying to get to – just giving me tips to get my shot to the level he was at – he can turn me into a pro,” Quinones said.
Quinones doesn’t anticipate making his college choice until late spring but expects to trim his list to eight or nine schools soon. Memphis, Quinones said, will “definitely” be a part of that group.
The high school senior has three official visits remaining after traveling to LSU and Maryland earlier this school year.
“I’m sitting down with my family and coach trying to figure out where my next visits are going to be,” Quinones said. “Coach Miller has been pushing for it.”
Quinones transferred from St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) – where he was a teammate of fellow Memphis target Precious Achiuwa – to IMG Academy last fall.
Memphis freshman Jayden Hardaway, Penny Hardaway’s son, attended IMG Academy last year.