Multiple sources have reported that the top unsigned high school center in the country — DeMarcus Cousins of Alabama — has committed to the University of Memphis, giving coach John Calipari two of the top five recruits in the country for his 2009 class (swingman Xavier Henry of Oklahoma was an early commitment).
A 6′ 10″ back-to-the-basket center, Cousins will infuse the 2009-10 Tigers with a low-post scoring threat unlike any the Tigers have seen since Kelly Wise in 2001.
Cousins and Henry will be counted on to fill the void left by graduating seniors Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier, and the presumed departure of freshman Tyreke Evans for the NBA draft.
Making the commitment even juicier is the fact that Cousins had originally leaned toward enrolling at UAB, one of the Tigers’ chief rivals in Conference USA. A weekend visit to Memphis — during which the Tigers wrapped up their third straight undefeated C-USA regular season — made the difference for Cousins.
More here.
— Frank Murtaugh
