[Hi its BenParticipant]

 Not to be to premature but he is tearing it up right now.  I’ve always been a fan of his versatility and how he can play the 2-guard at 6-9 but he’s never put it all together and has been someone I’ve always rooted for.  I hope this year he does put it all together because it seems as if he’s been on the NBA radar since his soph season.  I feel he can be a glue guy on a team at the next level.  Thoughts?

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 He has so many tools to be successful at the next level, but that 6’9 is very generous

[JoeWolf1]

Memphis is a lot better team than I thought they were. Belmont is a team that isn’t going to put any players in the NBA, but they are good enough to beat anyone at any given night. They’re coming back, I’m curious to see if the Tigers have the poise to put them away.

Witherspoon has put together a great game, and extremely efficient, but to be honest I only saw Memphis play two or three times last season, so I don’t know enough about his overall body of work to say he’s a player at the next level. I do think 6’9” is generous and I think 210 lbs is too.

[joecheck88Participant]

We have this same post every year. lol. He has the tools but can’t seem to put together a strong season(atleast to our expectations). The 6’9" isn’t that generous. I have walked by him a few times and while I can’t tell you exactly how tall he is, he is close to 6’9. The 210 idk, he is probably 195 or so.

[JNixonParticipant]

I’ve been familiar with Witherspoon since middle school and alot in HS as well. He has developed just about every year since he was in 8th grade.

Wesley Witherspoon is a very versatile wing who has upside and has slowly but surely developed as a player. He’s able to play as many as 4 positions on the floor at the college level, possibly 3 in the NBA (perimeter spots), and he’s a really smooth athlete on the wing at a very long 6’8 or 6’9 and about 210 (he’s put on north of 20 lbs since he was in HS). I’ve always thought Witherspoon’s upside is as a Tayshaun Prince-type, a long wing who can play every perimeter spot, defend every spot as well, and a knockdown shooter (he’s slowly become an effective shooter with his feet set). Witherspoon just has to work on consistently playing aggressive, showing toughness, obviously getting stronger, and just polishing his game more and more. He gets more polished every year, but he just has to stay consistent as a player and keep on getting better. He would be a little bit of a developmental prospect in the NBA though, but he should get drafted because of his experience, versatility and his physical and athletic tools. 

[HaleParticipant]

 The only year Witherspoon didn’t live up to expectations was last year and it was because he got hurt. I’m extremely proud of Memphis for taking care of a very good Belmont team.

[JNixonParticipant]

 Exactly! I feel the same way.

He was raw and weak as a Fr. and still got on the floor because he could play PG, SG and SF and defend too, as a Soph. he did the same things and improved his shot tremendously, last year he was hurt, and now he’s really growing up early on. Witherspoon has been called an underachiever, but really he’s developed fine and just had 1 off year due to injury.

[HaleParticipant]

Agreed. Personally as a Memphis fan I thought he was better then Elliot Williams by the end of his soph. season. He should be a fantastic role player in the NBA.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Wesley Witherspoon has talent but he has been inconsistent and injury prone.  Lots of talent though.  If he can put it together and stay consistent the Tigers will be dangerous. 

He’s not really a power forward but he played that his previous 3 years.  I would like to see him play more at the 3 with Black and Simpson/Stephens/Hall up front.  He looks stronger though so he can still play some "stretch four". 

I am excited that everyone looked stronger and more explosive.  And, all the guys were on the same page which wasn’t the case last year.  I am thinking that a small, versatile lineup of Joe Jackson, Will Barton, Witherspoon, Adonis Thomas, and Tarik Black will be very hard to beat.  WB was very impressive as was JJ. Black looked very solid and looks even more chiseled.  Adonis Thomas looked solid too.  It looks like that those are our core guys with Stan Simpson being our 3rd big man (even though he might start some), Chris Crawford is versatile, has nice size, can D up, handle the ball some, and shoot the 3.  He reminds me somewhat of Cedric Henderson.  Antonio Barton is a good point guard with Charles Carmouche being a steady player who can shoot.  I didn’t see DJ Stephens play much but he is a very active undersized four who looks and plays like a young Dennis Rodman and can rebound, jump, and dunk — sometimes all on the same play.  I think we need to develop that core and then use our bench to our advantage and go 8 or 9 deep with Antonio Barton, Simpson, Crawford, and Carmouche getting solid minutes off the bench with Stephens getting spot minutes as a banger/energy guy (he has asthma and that plagued him last year, but he threw down some NASTY dunks during Memphis Madness and won the dunk contest going away).  I like having Carmouche or Crawford as a scoring wing man off the bench as a sixth man then putting in Stan Simpson if Black gets his second foul.  We have enough depth to have a ‘platoon’ second unit, so we have the luxury of doing that.

Last year, Memphis had a rocky year but we won a bunch of close games and ended the season on a great run.  If we run, play defense, play unselfishly, and stay focused we can do a lot of damage.

 

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