Five-star recruit commits to Memphis basketball for 2022
Arterio Morris did not want to wait to commit to his hometown college basketball program.
The No. 21 recruit in the Class of 2022, according to the 247Sports Composite, and a native of Memphis whose family moved away when he was 5 committed to the Tigers on Tuesday afternoon. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound five-star point guard is the first 2022 prospect to pledge to Penny Hardaway. Morris, who recently transferred from Kimball High in Dallas to Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., told The Commercial Appeal the opportunity to return home to play at the next level was too much to pass up.
“I'm from Memphis, and ever since I grew up there, I've been wanting to actually play for my home (team),” Morris said.
As a sophomore, Morris averaged 22.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game at Kimball. He is rated the No. 5 point guard in the nation by 247Sports.
Morris chose the Tigers over offers from Kansas, UCLA, Texas A&M, Oregon, Arkansas, Texas, TCU and Texas Tech.
Morris has not ruled out the possibility of reclassifying to the Class of 2021.
Memphis guards Alex Lomax, Boogie Ellis and Damion Baugh each have eligibility remaining to return in 2021.
Morris, whose lead recruiter was assistant coach Cody Toppert, is the second five-star prospect to commit to the Tigers in less than a week.
Following the departure of assistant coach Mike Miller, Hardaway, Toppert and assistant Tony Madlock wooed center Moussa Cisse to commit last week.