Tag: James Wiseman

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Cover Feature News

Tiger Trials: Penny Hardaway’s Team Still Looking for the Smoke

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Let’s start with the positive. The 2019-20 Memphis Tigers will post a winning record, making it 20 consecutive such seasons, an unprecedented stretch for a program that has existed now for more than a century. The Tigers have beaten three teams from “Power Five” conferences (they beat none in Penny Hardaway’s first season as head coach), including regional villains Ole Miss and Tennessee (the latter in Knoxville). The Tigers have suited up arguably the finest freshman in the country, Precious Achiuwa having averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds on his way to all-league recognition in the American Athletic Conference.

Alas, having finished fifth in the American Athletic Conference (with a record of 21-10, the Tigers may need to reach the final of this week’s AAC tourney in Forth Worth to land a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers hope to avoid a six-year Big Dance drought, one that would equal the longest (1997-2002) since the famed 1973 team played UCLA for the national championship.

Larry Kuzniewski

Penny Hardaway

While they’ve beaten the Rebels and Vols, these Tigers also have a 40-point loss to Tulsa on their record, along with a dispiriting home loss to USF in early February that seriously damaged any hopes of a run to the Big Dance.

And finally, while they may feature the finest freshman in the country, his name is not James Wiseman. The Wiseman Case, as it will forever be known, is now in the hands of something called the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP), a new agency tasked by the NCAA to measure and resolve infractions. Based on the Memphis program’s track record — two of three Final Four appearances vacated — the fan base should prepare itself for a hammer it didn’t know existed six months ago. All the more threatening, there is no appeal process with the IARP.

“We’ve been through everything you can go through. We’re fighting. These guys are scrapping. I’m proud of the effort.”

— Penny Hardaway after the Tigers beat UConn on February 1st

We asumed last summer the story of these Tigers would be told with Wiseman front and center. We didn’t know the story would actually be told with Wiseman as merely background, offstage. The acclaimed recruit — the centerpiece among seven jewels in Hardaway’s second class — made the kind of debut in November that had the most stoic of Tiger observers swooning: 28 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes of playing time. It proved to be a cruel tease.

Wiseman played in two more games, even after learning he’d been ruled “likely ineligible” by the NCAA for his family having received $11,500 for moving expenses from Hardaway in 2017. It didn’t matter that Hardaway was merely a high school coach at the time. (He coached Wiseman and East High to a state title in 2018.) After some back-and-forth, the team accepted a 12-game suspension for Wiseman, only to have the player withdraw from the program to begin training for his pro career. (Wiseman is expected to be a top-three pick in June’s NBA draft.) This was removing Jagger from the Stones. It was killing off Rachel after the first season of Friends. Hardaway found himself tasked with driving a muscle car . . . minus the steering wheel.

Then in late January, as the Tigers were practicing before a clash with Connecticut, D.J. Jeffries suffered ligament damage in his left knee. The Tigers were 15-5 at the time, thanks in large part to the impact Jeffries had made since joining the starting lineup in late November: 10.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 51 percent shooting from the field. If Achiuwa was the second-best player in Hardaway’s ballyhooed recruiting class, it became clear the pride of Olive Branch High School was third. Now Jeffries would be as absent as Wiseman for the remainder of the season.

Larry Kuzniewski

Precious Achiuwa

“They’re learning on the fly. The pressure is different on this level than it’s ever been in high school.”

— Penny Hardaway after the Tigers beat Temple on February 5th

The Tigers have clearly lacked veteran leadership on the floor. You don’t get doubled up (80-40!) at Tulsa with the right captain in charge. You don’t surrender the final 15 points in a four-point loss to SMU at home without the right floor general shifting the game’s direction.

Why the leadership void? Five senior starters departed after the 2018-19 season. Four of them were junior-college transfers recruited by Tubby Smith to play but two seasons in blue and gray. Smith brought that quartet to Memphis, of course, thinking he’d be the guy tasked with replacing them. When Smith was fired — and Hardaway hired — at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, a “class gap” was all but certain, and the hurt has been compounded by Wiseman’s absence.

There’s been no superstar center — no “unicorn” — to hide or erase shortcomings among a talented-but-green rotation of players whose roles have changed not just from one game to another, but within games. When Achiuwa and Lance Thomas went down late in that home loss to USF on February 8th, the Tigers finished a tight game with no semblance of a frontcourt. The Bulls grabbed 41 rebounds, 12 more than the Tigers in a game decided by two points.

Larry Kuzniewski

Alex Lomax

Lomax has emerged as arguably the best point guard in what amounts to a committee system utilized by Hardaway. He’s near the top of the American Athletic Conference with an average of 4.3 assists per game. But veteran judgment? The 6’0″ sophomore chose to drive the lane as the clock wound down in a tie game at Cincinnati on February 13th. Instead of dishing to Achiuwa or another forward, Lomax put up a shot that was blocked from behind. The Tigers lost in overtime.

“This is life,” acknowledges Lomax, who has played for Hardaway since middle school. “People hold you to certain standards and expect you to be somewhere. You’re gonna have your ups and downs, no matter what. Stick to the same routine, trust the same people, and don’t let outsiders spread you with negativity. In the end, you’ll be fine.”

Having grown up in Memphis, Lomax knows the intensity of Tiger basketball culture as well as anyone his age. He also knows his coach personifies that culture, dating back to Hardaway’s All-America playing days (1991-93).

In some respects, Lomax has witnessed Hardaway’s development as much as vice versa. “He’s done a great job,” says Lomax. “All the punches thrown his way, he’s found a way to swing back. You lose a starter every three or four weeks, you have to adjust. You can’t play the same way. Players have to step up before you intended them to. You have to grow up faster. He’s trusted us to do our job. And he always reminds us that this is the city’s team. We have to do it for the city. Especially all the fans and boosters. He goes all out, 24/7. It’s been fun for me to be by his side, and see him develop from when I was so young.”

“Where we started, we had a very deep team. We had size, we had shooting, we had speed, we had length. Where we are now . . . we’re just scrapping.” — Penny Hardaway after the Tigers lost to USF on January 12th

Few would describe Achiuwa’s play as “scrapping.” Amid the team’s various stumbles and face-plants, the freshman from Queens has left an imprint unlike many rookies in Tiger history. His 18 double-doubles are a Memphis freshman record and one more than the great Keith Lee had in 1981-82. Achiuwa is only the fourth Memphis freshman to pull down 300 rebounds and he’s 11 points from becoming just the tenth to score 500. He’s a “specimen,” to borrow a description from Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, the kind college basketball gets to enjoy but for a single season these days.

Larry Kuzniewski

Lester Quinones

Though not as consistent as Achiuwa, Lester Quinones (a fellow freshman and New Yorker) has made his own impression on the Tiger program, and beyond his uncomfortably high — for some — shorts and air-guitar celebrations after connecting on a three-pointer. His flamboyance doesn’t mean Quinones hasn’t felt the growing pains. (At times, literally. He missed five games after breaking his right hand in the Ole Miss game.)

“We’ve lost way more games than we expected to,” says Quinones. “[It’s been crucial] for us to stay together and not let outside distractions interfere with where we’re trying to get . . . the NCAA tournament. We’re buying in more — and coming closer together — as the year goes on. No separation, because it’s been tough. Being the youngest team in the country, I feel like we’ve dealt with it pretty well. It’s hard to find a leader with just one senior on the team. We’re going to live up to expectations. We’ll get it done.”

So, what awaits the Tigers for the 2020-21 season? It’s hard to imagine the honeymoon being over for a third-year coach. This city’s love affair with Penny Hardaway runs deeper than most relationships between a community and college coach. It’s a different kind of belief system: This is Memphis, and he’s Penny. But as Hardaway has begun to emphasize, growth is necessary. Graduate transfers — veteran leadership, even if new to town — has become part of the sport’s culture. Look for a transfer or two to provide next year’s team an actual senior class. Among the five current freshmen who may be back — Achiuwa will be a first-round pick in the NBA draft — how many will return? These are variables to consider after the current Tigers play their final game. For now, hope remains, even if but a sliver.

“The low points have been losing our brothers out there,” says Lomax in reflecting on Wiseman and Jeffries. “It’s a family thing with us. But you gotta keep going, bring it together. At the end of the day, you can’t focus on the low points. Make a quick decision, keep your head up.”

And like Quinones, Lomax relishes the expectations of a passionate, if embattled, fan base. Whether it’s internal bravado or the “smoke” of national attention, he wouldn’t have it any other way. “This program can be the highest level,” he emphasizes. “We want to be number-one in the country. It’s not just basketball. We want to be number-one in everything. Fans don’t want mediocrity. We don’t either.”

Could the 2020-21 Tigers — however that roster is shaped, whatever the IARP decides — be a better team for the trials of this winter? “We can be better, just for having been through a lot,” notes Lomax. “Guys who have been here can teach the young guys. But every year’s different. And we’re focused on this year, still have a goal to accomplish.”

Even with possible sanctions looming (a postseason ban? a scholarship reduction?), Tiger basketball will be back in the spotlight, sometimes more so when games are not being played. Such is life for a program built as much on the bruises it’s absorbed as the nets it’s cut down.

“With the amount of players returning, we should have way more experience,” adds Quinones. “And [we’ll be] working hard this summer, expecting things might go south, and how we’ll recover. We’ll have that experience next year. Bigger goals. Bigger accomplishments.”

Categories
Opinion The Last Word

The NCAA is Wrong. The University of Memphis is Right.

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

You knew it was bound to happen. Here in Memphis, we just can’t have nice things. Riding the high from a Tigers football victory over previously unbeaten SMU and an impressive debut on ESPN’s College GameDay straight into a new basketball season filled with high, yet totally reasonable expectations, things were looking up for the ole Blue and Gray.

Until Friday, when my ride Downtown to FedExForum was disrupted by news that the NCAA had once again changed its mind about something.

On one side, you have a mother who wanted to be close to both her kids. You have an NBA legend who came from nothing, happy to spend his “retirement” elevating youth the way he elevated himself. You have a boy — seven feet tall, but still a boy — born with a preternatural gift, who needed the protection of someone who has walked in those same huge sneakers. On the other side, you have an institution willing to throw two generations of college sports superstars under the bus to prove — well, I’m not sure what the NCAA aims to prove with this, exactly. All over two acts of generosity: one to a university, another to a family.

Larry Kuzniewski

James Wiseman

Eleven years ago, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, who began his Memphis State career academically ineligible and finished it an All-American with an Elite Eight and the first triple-double in program history, who became a perennial NBA All-Star and the face of an iconic Nike line — donated $1 million to the University of Memphis. It was an incredible act of charity at a critical time for the university. As you may recall, 2008 was not a great year, economy-wise.

This largesse is the sort of thing the NCAA should be hailing as a success story.
However, that donation, in their twisted view, “indefinitely” qualified Penny as a “booster” and therefore disqualified him from ever helping anyone again. When Penny signed that check, he had no idea he’d see his namesake building every day at work 10 years later. James Wiseman was in elementary school. When Penny helped Wiseman’s family move to Memphis in 2017, Tubby Smith was coach of the Tigers. Sorry to say it, but, uh, nobody was boosting that operation.

By that logic, any season ticket holder should be barred from passing out candy on Halloween. Next time you’re stopped at a red light and see a kid in football pads asking for donations, tell him “Sorry. I’d love to give you my cupholder change, but I don’t want to jeopardize your college career.” No former student-athlete, then, can make a monetary donation to their alma mater without this excessive scrutiny. I’m no expert, but I remember learning something about a “chilling effect” in my constitutional law classes. How convenient for those who see the tide turning.

They are scared. They see what Penny is doing at Memphis: bringing NBA swagger to college in an environment that prepares players for what they really want to do. They see public opinion turning in favor of athletes’ rights. They see universities resisting their arbitrary enforcement. They see the changing faces on the sidelines. So they punish … the athletes?

They say their mission is to “support student-athletes on and off the field, in the classroom and in life” and they keep getting caught in a lie. If they supported Wiseman — who is completely innocent in all of this — they wouldn’t have “likely” rescinded his eligibility five months after they granted it. Instead, they waited until he had already played a game and couldn’t just go somewhere else. Because of their transfer policies and one-and-done rules, he has no choice but to fight. The NCAA cannot come out of this looking like the good guy.

As an alumna, and, you know, a compassionate human, I’m proud to see the U of M stand up and say “that’s not fair, and we’re not going to do that.” Play Wiseman in every single game and take it all the way to the Supreme Court if it comes to that. Hang the 2008 banner, too, while we’re thinking about it. The rules may be the rules, but that doesn’t make them just. Universities like the U of M that don’t have the blue-blood prestige, monster TV deals, and big-conference paychecks can’t afford to sit back and shrug while the capricious NCAA clings to relevance. Let them vacate the entire season if this is the hill they want to die on. We’ll be there for the whole show.

Jen Clarke is an unapologetic Memphian and a digital marketing specialist.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

The Wiseman Case

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

James Wiseman should be starting at center for Memphis. By this I mean James Wiseman should be starting at center for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Larry Kuzniewski

James Wiseman

The 7’1″ 18-year-old, merely months removed from East High School, was a giant among men — a god among mortals — in his college debut last Tuesday for the Memphis Tigers. In merely 22 minutes on the floor, Wiseman scored 28 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, delivering one thunderous dunk after another to answer any doubts about the hype that preceded his arrival under the FedExForum lights. Then Friday, surely playing in a complete mental fog, Wiseman contributed 17 points and nine rebounds in the Tigers’ victory over UIC. He did so a few hours after being declared ineligible by the NCAA for a payment his current coach, Penny Hardaway, made in 2017 to help Wiseman’s family move from Nashville to Memphis.

Here we are. A man clearly capable of playing in the NBA — and earning upwards of $10 million as a Rookie of the Year candidate — is not allowed to because he’s not yet 19 years old and a year removed from his high school graduation. And now, according to the NCAA, he’s not allowed to play college basketball because his family benefited from $11,500, courtesy of a college booster. This scenario is passed off as logical by those who run the basketball factory we know as the NBA and NCAA. Making money at one life stage: illegal. Making money at another life stage: legal, but only under factory conditions.

When I find myself attempting to process the NBA’s draft-eligibility requirement, I inevitably turn to rock-and-roll. Imagine if the music industry refused recording contracts to those too young, in the industry’s view, to handle it. No deal for you, Justin Bieber, until you’re old enough to legally toast your sales. Imagine if concert promoters froze out Greta Van Fleet until the boys are of an age where they can fully appreciate the millions they’re earning. Lunacy, right? But this is the way professional basketball works in these United States. James Wiseman would make the Memphis Grizzlies better today. But he’s not allowed to until he spends a winter as a “student-athlete,” dipping his toes in academia while posterizing over-matched competition to the benefit of a college program.

Which brings us to the case the University of Memphis — and notably, attorney Leslie Ballin — now has to manage. As hard as it may be, we must disconnect Hardaway and his current gig in evaluating the legality of the check he wrote for the Wiseman family’s move. As recently as 2017, Tubby Smith was under contract as the U of M basketball coach. The “recruiting” of James Wiseman by Hardaway went no further than the desire to see Wiseman in an East Mustangs jersey. (And this cannot be denied. It’s hard to envision Hardaway parting with so much as $11 for Wiseman’s move were he not the basketball player we know.) So was the transaction a violation of NCAA law?

Ballin’s case sill surely boil down to the definition of “booster.” The NCAA sees the million dollars Hardaway donated (a decade ago) for the Tiger Hall of Fame — a building that features Hardaway’s name above the entrance — as the act of a booster, and enough to classify Hardaway as a booster to the present day. Whether or not Wiseman enrolled at the U of M — and whether or not Hardaway became the Tiger coach — this would be a no-no. If Hardaway can be classified as a booster of the program he now leads. The more I consider, the more challenging I find that “fact” to prove.

A banner hangs in the rafters of FedExForum for the 1985 Tiger team that reached the Final Four, but had the appearance “vacated” retroactively as punishment for finanical impropriety under coach Dana Kirk. Another banner is missing, the one saluting the 2008 Tiger team that also reached the Final Four, punishment for the NCAA deciding Derrick Rose had cheated on a standardized test before declaring him eligible for the 2007-08 season. Now this? Why shouldn’t the university dig in its heels? What’s to lose? Basketball games? Fans watching Wiseman and his talented freshman classmates play will know what they see. They’ll know the results of every game. The young man is already an example of all that’s wrong with the NBA and college basketball. Should he be made a one-year pariah on top of that? Here’s the ball, Mr. Ballin. Take it to the rim. 

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Wiseman Declared Ineligible (But Plays in Tiger Win)

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Do unicorns exist if they’re declared ineligible by the NCAA?
Larry Kuzniewski

James Wiseman

In a late-afternoon bombshell — first dropped in a press conference called by attorney Leslie Ballin — University of Memphis freshman center James Wiseman was declared ineligible to play for having accepted moving expenses in 2017 from current Tiger coach Penny Hardaway. (At the time of the alleged transaction, Hardaway coached at East High School in Memphis, where Wiseman played after settling in the Bluff City.) A court injunction filed by Ballin — representing Wiseman’s family — allowed Wiseman to play in Friday’s game against UIC at FedExForum. The country’s top-ranked freshman scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 92-46 win for 14th-ranked Memphis. He will remain eligible to play at least until a hearing on the case (scheduled for November 18th) confirms or rejects the NCAA’s ruling.

An excerpt from a U of M press release summarizes the case against Wiseman:

Initially, after a joint standard eligibility review by the University and the NCAA, as is common for all high-profile incoming student-athletes, James was declared eligible by the NCAA in May 2019. However, based on information that necessitated a deeper investigation, the University began to work alongside the NCAA in investigating the matter. After several months of interviews and, after a review of documentation, it was determined that in the summer of 2017, while James was a high school student and prospective student-athlete, Penny Hardaway provided $11,500 in moving expenses to assist the Wiseman family in their relocation to Memphis, unbeknownst to James.

In opening his postgame press conference, Tiger coach Penny Hardaway announced he couldn’t discuss details about his star player. “As much as you guys want to ask me about James,” said Hardaway, “I have to be silent on that, because it’s an ongoing process. I wish I could talk about it.”

Freshmen D.J. Jeffries (14 points off the bench) and Boogie Ellis (game-high 22 points) met with reporters before their coach and also made it clear they couldn’t discuss Wiseman’s case with the NCAA. When asked how the Tigers would perform if Wiseman were, say, injured, Ellis said, “We got guys who would step up if we were without him.” Said Jeffries “[Wiseman] helped all of us; he was a big piece tonight.”

Hardaway emphasized, more than once, that today’s news “is what it is.” He emphasized the need for his young team to “block out the noise. Things are gonna be said everywhere, but we have to stay focused on what we’re doing.”
Larry Kuzniewski

Penny Hardaway

In hitting six of nine three-point attempts, Ellis stole a measure of spotlight from Wiseman in a game that amounted to 40 minutes of somewhat-pleasant distraction for the crowd of 15,923. Precious Achiuwa added 10 points and Tyler Harris — a grizzled sophomore — scored 11 points and drained three treys himself. Lester Quinones contributed six points and six assists and Alex Lomax scored nine points and handed out five assists.

“We have some tough games coming up,” said Hardaway. “The next one [Tuesday night against 15th-ranked Oregon in Portland] is the toughest yet. We have to stay locked in.” Hardaway suggested that Wiseman will play against the Ducks. Should he later be confirmed ineligible by the NCAA, the Tigers will be forced to vacate any wins earned with him on the floor. [NOTE: Look up Derrick Rose and the “0-40” 2007-08 season.]

The Tigers’ next home game will be a matinee (1 p.m. tip-off) against Alcorn State on November 16th.

Categories
Cover Feature News

Hoop City! Season Previews for the Tigers and Grizz

First Class

Can the country’s top-ranked recruiting class take the Memphis Tigers to the promised land?

by Frank Murtaugh

Not since Penny Hardaway (an All-American guard) and four other starters departed after the 1992-93 season has the University of Memphis basketball program undergone what amounts to a roster flip. But there’s a significant catch this time. Hardaway — now the second-year head coach of the program — has filled that roster with the country’s top-ranked recruiting class, a septet that will not so much support returning rotation players like Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris (both sophomores), but shape the way those veterans impact the upcoming season. The Tigers will have a brand-new starting five on opening night (November 5th against South Carolina State at FedExForum), but they’ll take the floor with the highest expectations the program has seen in at least a decade.

Photographs by Larry Kuzniewski

Coach Penny Hardaway

A year ago at this time, excitement around the program was entirely Hardaway-generated. The first-year coach led the Tigers to a 22-14 record and postseason play for the first time in five years (albeit the NIT). All but three members of that team’s rotation — most notably Jeremiah Martin — exhausted their eligibility, making this year’s recruiting class critical for any hopes of a return to the NCAA tournament and/or national rankings. And what a class Hardaway has delivered: seven players from four states and three times zones, a group ranked tops in the country by those who specialize in such metrics.

The Magnificent Seven

• James Wiseman, C (East High School, Memphis) — The top-ranked recruit in the entire country, Wiseman won a Tennessee state championship (in 2018) as a junior at East, playing for Hardaway. He was the tipping point for this recruiting class, a primary factor in attracting new teammates from as far away as New York and California. The Gatorade National Player of the Year as a senior, Wiseman played in the McDonald’s All-American Game and could become the top pick in the 2020 NBA draft. But first things first. The 7’1″ center will aim to add a college championship to the high school hardware he earned alongside Alex Lomax, Malcolm Dandridge, and Ryan Boyce. Wiseman is the only Tiger on the AAC’s preseason all-conference team.

James Wiseman

• Precious Achiuwa, F (Bronx, New York) — Like Wiseman, a five-star recruit, top-10 national prospect, and participant in the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game. Played with Lester Quinones at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey (as well as AAU ball in New York). The last of the “magnificent seven” to sign with Memphis, Achiuwa’s addition clinched a No. 1 ranking for the recruiting class.

Precious Achiuwa

• Boogie Ellis, PG (San Diego) — A four-star playmaker, Ellis was ranked 32nd overall by 247Sports. Scored 51 points and 43 points in games as a senior at Mission Bay High School.

• Lester Quinones, G (Brentwood, New York) — Earned a four-star ranking during his single season at IMG Academy in Florida. The 12th-ranked shooting guard in the country according to 247Sports. Won a championship in 2018 alongside Achiuwa at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey. Shot 38 percent from three-point range at IMG.

• D.J. Jeffries, F (Olive Branch High School) — A four-star prospect, Jeffries was the top-ranked player in Mississippi and the ninth-ranked power forward in the country. Averaged 23.3 points and 12.8 rebounds for the Conquistadors as a senior.

• Damion Baugh, G (Nashville) — Played two seasons at Tennessee Prep Academy in Memphis, averaging 23.5 points and 10 rebounds as a senior. A four-star prospect, Baugh was ranked fourth among Tennessee prospects by 247Sports.

• Malcolm Dandridge, F (East High School, Memphis) — Won a pair of state titles under Hardaway at East then became the new coach’s first commitment shortly after Hardaway was named Tiger coach in March 2018. A four-star prospect, Dandridge also played alongside Jeffries on the Bluff City Legends summer team.

Malcolm Dandridge and Alex Lomax

Talented But Inexperienced …

Hardaway hasn’t expressed — or shown outwardly — the slightest intimidation at the challenge he faces as Tiger coach, not since the March 2018 press conference in which he was reintroduced to a community of followers who already knew him better than they did their second cousins. To now be armed with a recruiting class that is the envy of every other coach in the country? “I’m excited,” he says. “Last year was a great learning experience. To come back with the No. 1 recruiting class. … I’m anxious to get ready.”

And the notion of a rotation built around freshmen? “They’re freshmen, but they’re talented,” emphasizes Hardaway. “They’re gonna lean on us, the coaching staff, and players from last year. Experience is the best teacher. They’ll get their feet wet and see what works, and what doesn’t work. If they stay within themselves, and listen to us, they’ll be okay. If five freshmen earn spots, I’d have no problem starting them. Who is going to be the best at their position for us to win? There’s no favoritism. They’ll battle it out in practice.”

Among the star-studded group of freshmen, Wiseman is almost certain to stand out. Players who can run the floor at 7’1″ tend to gain “unicorn” status in the modern basketball lexicon, and Wiseman qualifies. Already projected to be a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA draft, the Mandarin-speaking big man will aim to maximize his impact for what he hopes is one special winter of college. “He’s matured a lot,” says Hardaway. “James is really quiet. But he’s being active with his teammates. He’s asking a lot of questions. He’s hungry. He wants to play great while he’s here.”

Quinones has stepped forward as a face — and voice — of sorts for the Tiger rookies. He wears his game shorts higher than most, and flexes his Twitter muscles without reservation, recently firing away at Tennessee players as the Tiger-Vol rivalry regains some bite. “I love playing in front of huge crowds,” he says. “It gets me going better. It has a huge effect on us, how accepting the fans are. We’re just one huge basketball city.”

The new collection of talent has meant intense practices. As Hardaway puts it, “Iron sharpens iron.” Says Quinones, “The talent level on this team is amazing. Every day, someone is going to bring it more. The next day, the next person will do it.”

“These are the moments I’ve been waiting for my whole life,” adds Ellis, the freshman who’s made the longest trip to be part of this special class. “The bright lights, it’s an amazing feeling. Since I arrived in town, everybody wants to take pictures with us. It’s crazy. Great expectations come with great responsibility. We’ll live up to it if we continue to work hard and come together for one goal. We’ll put it all out there.”

While Ellis and Quinones are the premium guards among the freshman class, don’t sleep on Baugh, as there’s one element of a player’s game that earns playing-time love from Hardaway. “Damion is special,” notes Hardaway. “He picks up [defensively] 94 feet, maybe our best defensive guard besides Alex Lomax. Great rebounding guard. High IQ. And he can pass the ball really well.”

The Veterans

The only three players who can be classified as veterans this season are sophomore guards Harris (10.8 points per game as a freshman) and Lomax (5.1) and senior forward Isaiah Maurice (5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds). Hardaway is especially pleased with the development Lomax has shown over the offseason. Having coached A-Lo since his high school days at East, Hardaway feels an investment in the player’s rise. “He really struggled last year, shooting the ball,” says Hardaway. “He’s always been a great defensive player but kind of lost his way. This year, he came in understanding what he needs to do, and how he can affect the game for us. He understands what it takes for him to be successful on this level.”

Hardaway For the Defense

Amid all the flash, all those ranking stars (two fives and five fours, remember), Hardaway has his sights set on smothering opponents defensively. Good defense doesn’t slump. Particularly when playing away from FedExForum — where the Tigers’ various rankings will be held against them — Hardaway wants to see his team answer with defense. “With a young team, defense is gonna get it,” he says. “When we run into those teams that are senior-laden, physical . . . defense is going to come into play. Offensively, we’ll be okay. But defensively, we’ll have to shut people down.”

The Tigers’ nonconference schedule is gaining strength, both with regional rivals back (Ole Miss, UAB, Tennessee) and “power-five” opponents a long way from FedExForum (Oregon and North Carolina State, the latter in Brooklyn). “There are some points on the schedule where, if we’re not coming to play, we could lose two or three in a row,” says Hardaway. “Especially with a young team. We’ll see who can handle adversity. We’re not afraid to play anybody.”

Hardaway pays attention to the rankings, both for his recruiting class and for the team he’s built in two years. While some prognosticators have the Tigers in their top 20 — but not top 10 — Hardaway says top five wouldn’t surprise him. (AAC coaches picked Memphis to tie Houston for the conference championship.) He’s that confident in the talent he’s drawn to Memphis, and that convinced he and his coaching staff will max-out the treasure trove of skills. So raise your expectations as high as they’ll go. They’re not higher than those of the Memphis coach.

“The mood around the city — everywhere I go — they can’t wait for the season to start,” says Hardaway. “Everybody’s raring to go, to see what this team’s gonna do. We’re all anxious.”

A Fresh Start

Six key questions about this year’s new-edition Grizzlies.

By Aimee Stiegemeyer and Sharon Shy Brown

Gone are the days when the Memphis Grizzlies were a playoff staple in the NBA’s Western Conference — and often known as the team no one wanted to face in the post-season. A new chapter has commenced in Grind City. The Grizzlies traded franchise cornerstones — and two of the best players in franchise history — Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Gasol was traded to the Toronto Raptors prior to the trade deadline, where he eventually went on to become an NBA champion. Conley was sent to the Utah Jazz ahead of the draft.

But the Grizzlies have quietly established a young core that could set the organization up for years to come. Second-year player Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie point guard Ja Morant will be the key figures going forward.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Will it work? Time will tell. Here are six key questions ahead of the upcoming NBA season:

The Grizzlies made a lot of major changes during the off season — changes in the front office, changes in the coaching staff, and changes to the roster. Do you think those changes will lead to success? 

Aimee Stiegemeyer: Eventually, yes. Although it could take more than one season to fully realize it. While they might not lead to immediate success, the changes made in the off season are a good starting point for getting there. 

There are some new decision-makers in the front office, and so far the choices they have made appear to be good ones. Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke were excellent pickups, and the Grizzlies also received a few usable pieces from Utah and Atlanta. Shedding the remainder of Chandler Parsons’ contract was one of the most impressive moves made.

Sharon Brown: In recent years, the Grizzlies have been a team plagued with instability and uncertainty. The team has been through four coaches since Robert Pera took controlling ownership of the franchise in 2012. For some reason or another, coaches haven’t worked out for Memphis. It is too early to predict how first-year coach Taylor Jenkins’ tenure will work out.

Confidence was lost in the front office, and former general manager Chris Wallace took the brunt of the criticism — rightfully so, since he was the one in front of the cameras. Changes were inevitable to appease the fan base. Grizzlies fans were used to being in the playoffs during the Grit ‘n Grind era with the Core Four (Gasol, Conley, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen). Even though the team improved to 33 wins last season from 22 the previous season, fans still want and expect more. Success is relative, and time will tell if the changes made will be worthwhile.


Memphis appears to be at the starting point of an across-the-board rebuild. Do you think a complete rebuild was necessary?

AS: Yes, 100 percent. The Grizzlies went all in on Gasol and Conley three years ago, which I do think was the correct choice at the time. Overspending on Chandler Parsons was a gamble by the front office, and in hindsight it turned out to be a losing one. However, looking at the context of where the Grizzlies were as a team, I still believe they did the best they could with the cards they were dealt. It became apparent last year that the window to build around Conley and Gasol was pretty much closed, and a hard reset was the most logical way forward. 

It’s easy to look back now and criticize the albatross that ended up being Parsons’ contract, but top-tier free agents were not exactly clamoring to come to Memphis, and something that often goes unstated is that without signing Parsons (or a similar caliber player), there was a good chance that Conley wouldn’t have re-signed. 

It seems like a lifetime ago now, but there were plenty of reasons to believe that building around Gasol and Conley would lead to further success. With a quality center and a quality point guard on the roster, the addition of a top-tier wing like Parsons made perfect sense. On paper, it was a solid move. In practice, not so much. Paralyzed by three near-max contracts, the Grizzlies were not able to acquire the rest of the pieces needed to push the team to the next level. And thus, here we are. 

SB: Absolutely, it was necessary. As the saying goes, you can’t expect different results if you keep doing the same thing over and over. That’s the definition of insanity. The Grizzlies were never known for developing young talent. Players were getting older and restless.

It was time to move on from Gasol and Conley and allow them to pursue championship aspirations because, frankly, it wasn’t happening in Memphis any time soon.

It was long overdue. The icing on the cake was finally getting rid of Parsons’ massive contract. Getting rid of the three massive contracts of Gasol, Conley, and Parsons gave the Grizzlies room to maneuver for the future.

Who’ll have a breakout season, top of the roster?

AS: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are the obvious answers, provided the latter can learn to stay out of foul trouble. This could also be the season that Dillon Brooks unlocks his full potential and elevates his game to another level. I’m feeling pretty high on Brandon Clarke as well. 

Ja Morant

SB: Conventional wisdom would say Jaren Jackson Jr. However, Morant may give him a run for his money. Both have the potential to become superstars in this league.

Jackson is a great all-around player and the new face of the franchise, but he has had issues with rebounding and getting into foul trouble. He needs to understand that when the game is on the line, he needs to be out on the floor, not sitting on the bench with foul issues.

Morant is one of the best passing and explosive point guards to come out of college in a long time, and he will be in the conversation for Rookie of the Year. And he is hungry. With luck and hard work, Morant and Jackson could be an unstoppable duo in the NBA for years to come.

Who’ll have a breakout season from the bench?

AS: Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill are both giving me very strong veteran role-player vibes. And this is likely to be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think we should sleep on Grayson Allen either. 

SB: There are several players who stand out on the bench, and it is hard to pick just one to have a breakout season. Clarke and Allen may be top-tier role players. Backup point guard Tyus Jones may be the most important bench player. He has an all-around game and has the ability to run the offense when Morant is catching a rest.

What does a successful season look like right now to this franchise?

AS: The Grizzlies need to consider the long game here and look beyond immediate results. What constitutes success is subjective, and one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor. I don’t expect them to be playoff contenders this year — and maybe not next year, either. They have put together a nice group of guys who are young, scrappy, and hungry, and the primary goal for this season should be about player development and building team chemistry.

Coach Taylor Jenkins

SB: Setting high expectations for this season doesn’t seem realistic. As we’ve seen elsewhere in the league, a youth movement doesn’t necessarily mean instant success. Continuity goes a long way as far as development is concerned with a young core. It might be a few years before the team’s hard work pays off. This is a game of chess, not checkers. It may be tough in terms of winning in the Western Conference, but fans will likely have other things to cheer for and become excited about. This team should be considered one of the better up-and-coming young teams in the West, one with a bright future.

How should the Grizzlies handle the situation with Andre Iguodala?

AS: This is another situation in which playing the long game is necessary. What they should absolutely not do, under any circumstances, is give Iguodala a buyout right now. I might feel differently if he were willing to accept something lower than his full $17.2 million salary, however it just does not make good business sense to subsidize his move to the Lakers or the Clippers for nothing in return. If nothing else, he will be a hot commodity as the trade deadline gets closer, and there’s a much better chance of getting some value out of his contract.  

SB: Right now, it’s a business decision for the Grizzlies. Memphis has every right to want something in return, instead of a buyout. Iguodala has over $17 million remaining on his contract. Neither the Grizzlies nor Iguodala appear to be in a rush to come to an agreement. The Grizzlies are vying for future assets via a trade while Iguodala wants to be traded to a contender or sign with a team of his choosing, if he’s bought out. Patience is key for both Memphis and Iguodala.

Aimee Stiegemeyer and Sharon Shy Brown are the founding editors and co-owners of the Memphis Grizzlies blog All Heart in Hoop City.