[JNixonParticipant]

 7: Memphis Tigers

Frontcourt- Will Coleman was a solid rotation player at PF, but he graduates. 6’8 210 Sr. Wesley Witherspoon, a favorite of mine because we used to be my teammate in middle school lol, is an interesting player coming off a down year that was marred by injury and a lack of aggressiveness. He’s a versatile forward with great length, good quickness and fluidity, and a decent spot-up shot. Witherspoon has high defensive potential (could defend all 3 perimeter spots with his tools), but he’s still building on it. He’s a decent ball-handler and a willing passer too. The Sr. also has played everything from PG-PF in spurts over his career, and is a mismatch at the PF when he does play there due to his athleticism. He needs to get tougher and more active though, continue to add weight to his frame, develop a more consistent mid-range, and just add polish to his overall game in general. This is a big season for Witherspoon, who has NBA-type physical tools and upside, but he has to just continue to get more polish and assertiveness, he disappears too easily. Witherspoon is a likely 2^nd round NBA prospect. The C spot will likely be manned by Tarik Black, a 6’7 255 Soph. who comes off a pretty productive 1^st year as a valuable big. Black is super physical, tough and strong, showing willingness to be a “garbage man” down low. He is effective as a screener, area rebounder, shot-blocker, and as a catch and finish guy. His feel for the game, offensive skill, and fundamentals on both ends are a work in progress though. He fouls at a high rate, and should look to tone that down next year given the lack of size the team has anyway. Black reminds of Joey Dorsey. The PF spot figures to see highly touted 6’7 215 Fr. Adonis Thomas as the starter or a bench guy who plays extended time. Thomas is a very good athlete with length, fluidity, and an energetic approach. He is a matchup ploy due to his strong frame, which is often hard for SF’s to keep up with, and his athleticism and quickness is generally too much for PF’s. He’s a competitive player who rebounds solid, works hard, and will move without the ball and get out in transition. He can be shot over on D down low and is generally not a great defender. He’s also a mediocre shooter and ball-handler when he plays on the perimeter. Thomas isn’t a 1-and-done type; he should be Memphis for 2 or 3 years. Don’t be surprised at all if 6’10 240 JUCO transfer Stan Simpson starts at the C spot to add size, with Black playing PF. He’ll have 2 years at Memphis, and he’s got good size and length. He’s not a super low post scorer, but he’s adequate and he defends and rebounds his area fine. He started his career at Illinois. Depth will come from rFr. Hippolyte Tsafack, a very physical 6’9 235 PF/C with a raw offensive skill-set, and 6’8 230 Seton Hall transfer Ferrakohn Hall who won’t be eligible until December. Hall is a face-up 15 ft. PF who struggled some with the physicality of Big East ball, but he’s put on 10 lbs and has been practicing with Memphis since January. He should be able to play rotation time in the C-USA. This group has gone from undersized and undermanned (played a lot of 4 in, 1 out last year), to having a good amount of size and depth now.

Backcourt- Everyone from this young group returns, after being thrown in the fire early in their careers. The guy who determines the way things go for Memphis will be Soph. waterbug guard Joe Jackson. We saw Jackson have to grow up through the fire last year, and after competing with the U-19 squad this summer he has been speeding up his development once again to capitalize on his upside. The 5’11 160 Jackson is very athletic and super quick, with handle and a really streaky shot. Jackson usually has few problems slashing the lane and getting where he wants on the floor, and he’s hard for guards to stay in front of. But boy, Jackson had a hard time running the offense efficiently as a Fr. Jackson has a terrible problem with overdribbling. He averaged more turnovers than assists as a Fr. (3.1 apg /3.3 topg), and really struggled with decision-making. Jackson is also terribly small and skinny, and although he’s athletic enough to make some creative finishes at the rim, he struggles finishing amongst the trees and dealing with contact. He also has an inconsistent in-between game to allievate that. Jackson also struggled on D, other than pressuring the ball where he can be a pest. Still, he’s is fun to watch and he should definitely improve next year across the board. He will certainly have to play minutes off the ball though, he’s not a real PG. The SG and leading scorer Will Barton returns for his Soph. season. The 6’6 180 (has put on about 15 lbs since he 1^st arrived at Memphis) combo guard is quick and an aggressive shot-creator who has the raw ability to put the ball in the basket. He’s long and athletic, and figures to give Memphis a 14 ppg scorer as a Soph., but he’s a little rough around the edges (his handle is somewhat loose and his shot is more streaky than respectable), and he needs more discipline on both ends and strength. Barton is allergic to defense, and was benched quite a few times because of it last year. He’s also a little selfish and ball-hoggish, but he isn’t as bad as he used to be at all. Barton will be an interesting prospect in 2012 or 2013. Will’s younger brother, the Soph. Antonio, will be a key rotation guy again. He wasn’t expected to have the impact he did (he was the last signing in the super highly-touted 2010 class for them, a throw-in recruit basically), but he’s a steady player. The younger Barton is a 6’2 175 tweener guard with probably the best jump shot on the team. He’s very good with his feet set. He also can slash the lane in spurts and plays with a sense of calm and maturity, but he’s not a great athlete. 6’4 205 Chris Crawford saw extended time as a Fr. Crawford functioned as a PG and SG last year, and is blessed with good size. He likes to look for his shots, but he’s unselfish too and a nice passer. He will need to get a more consistent shot, but the potential is there. He had to grow up fast last year, and he should be better and more efficient next year too. Coach Pastner liked him a lot, despite him not being one of the crown jewels of the 2010 class and you could see his upside. Sr. Charles Carmouche and Jr. D.J. Stephens provide depth. Carmouche played rotation time last year as a transfer from New Orleans U, and he’s a guy who looks for his own shots. He has a natural shot, but he’s one-dimensional. The 6’5 190 Stephens is a super athlete with length. He plays bigger than he is, but his skill level is below par. A LOT of depth and talent offensively in this backcourt. If Joe Jackson plays less erratic this is one of the absolute best backcourts in the country, and all the young guys should grow up next year.

Overview: Coach Pastner has some work to do again, but he did a respectable job last year given the circumstances and youth. He’s an elite recruiter with nice charisma as a very young coach, but he did have some trouble last year at times when he had to make mid-game adjustments. I expect that to improve sooner or later, but he still has to grow up. They still aren’t great defensively, but they will be a year older and better on that end. I like that they have added size to a frontline that lacked height and depth last year though. They never lacked for talent offensively, especially in the backcourt, and those guys are experienced now. I think Memphis will be an Elite 8 team next year.

[providencefriars1Participant]

The sky is the limit for Memphis as long as Thomas and Barton play to their potential. I agree with the elite 8 assesment.

[providencefriars1Participant]

The sky is the limit for Memphis as long as Thomas and Barton play to their potential. I agree with the elite 8 assesment.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Joe Jackson is a poor man’s Will Bynum. Not that good.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Joe Jackson is a poor man’s Will Bynum. Not that good.

[JNixonParticipant]

 That’s a pretty good comparison.

[JNixonParticipant]

 That’s a pretty good comparison.

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

sorry off topic but what number did you have wisconsin at? i missed them.

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

sorry off topic but what number did you have wisconsin at? i missed them.

[JNixonParticipant]

Here you go! : http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/countdown-ncaa-season-jnixon-iggy9s-top-35-teams-18-0

[JNixonParticipant]

Here you go! : http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/countdown-ncaa-season-jnixon-iggy9s-top-35-teams-18-0

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Thanks for the breakdown Jorrye…..Really happy to see you say we will make a deep run in the Tourney this season.

Tarik Black = UNDERRATED "BIG"….This guy has tons & tons of potential to dominate the post game. I just hate the fact that he is so undersized which will be a knock on his prospects.

"Thomas isn’t a 1-and-done type; he should be Memphis for 2 or 3 years."

I would hope so…..we need a shot at the title & I think he would be a force for us.

"The SG and leading scorer Will Barton returns for his Soph. season. The 6’6 180 (has put on about 15 lbs since he 1st arrived at Memphis)"

That’s a + + for him…..I just pray he does not get too trigger happy this year, because I feel like he killed us in the Tourney with his poor shot selection.

I really hope that our "key" addition being our strength & conditioning coach has a lot to do with the impact we are projected to make this year, because he is suppose to be the best thing out there training athletes.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Thanks for the breakdown Jorrye…..Really happy to see you say we will make a deep run in the Tourney this season.

Tarik Black = UNDERRATED "BIG"….This guy has tons & tons of potential to dominate the post game. I just hate the fact that he is so undersized which will be a knock on his prospects.

"Thomas isn’t a 1-and-done type; he should be Memphis for 2 or 3 years."

I would hope so…..we need a shot at the title & I think he would be a force for us.

"The SG and leading scorer Will Barton returns for his Soph. season. The 6’6 180 (has put on about 15 lbs since he 1st arrived at Memphis)"

That’s a + + for him…..I just pray he does not get too trigger happy this year, because I feel like he killed us in the Tourney with his poor shot selection.

I really hope that our "key" addition being our strength & conditioning coach has a lot to do with the impact we are projected to make this year, because he is suppose to be the best thing out there training athletes.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Will Barton is one of my favorite SG prospects actually. I’ve been a fan of him since I saw him his senior year. Has a nack for making the flashy passes. Reminds me of Jamaal Crawford actually. Similarly nice passing though usually only used for the highlight play, gets shot hapy, and is allergic to D. Maturity and the right situation could change all that, but persoanlly I see a similar career.(6th man scoring punch Jamaal, not the 20 ppg Jamaal)

[iguapops420Participant]

 Will Barton is one of my favorite SG prospects actually. I’ve been a fan of him since I saw him his senior year. Has a nack for making the flashy passes. Reminds me of Jamaal Crawford actually. Similarly nice passing though usually only used for the highlight play, gets shot hapy, and is allergic to D. Maturity and the right situation could change all that, but persoanlly I see a similar career.(6th man scoring punch Jamaal, not the 20 ppg Jamaal)

[jeff416Participant]

Pretty good writeup. I think they have the potential to go very far in the tournament. They have a lot of guys who could have breakout years.

 

Jackson should be much improved with a year of experience, and that should help him cut down the turnovers a little bit. I expect him to have a big year this year. Barton will likely be the leading scorer again, and like Jackson, he needs to cut down on the turnovers and make better decisions. But from everything I’ve heard, he has improved his handle and gotten a little stronger this offseason(he’s still very skinny though).  Black should be there main big man, and was very good last season. Like you said he needs to stay out of foul trouble though. He has actualy lost 22 pounds(he was never really fat), and is much more explosive. Also, he is atleast 6’8, maybe 6’9. He is a very underrated NBA prospect imo, I could easily see him being a first round pick next year, if he were to enter. Witherspoon is very interesting, because he was the leading scorer last season until he got injured. He is now 100%, and should have all off his explosiveness back. He will probably start, but I’m not really sure what to expect from him. He could be very good and a key player on the team, or just a good role player. Adonis should help a lot defensively and on the glass, not sure how much he will do on the offensive end. He will play mostly on the wing though.

 

Also, I don’t think Simpson will start, unless he plays very well in practice. I think he will be a good role player though, and add size and depth to the frontcourt.

[jeff416Participant]

Pretty good writeup. I think they have the potential to go very far in the tournament. They have a lot of guys who could have breakout years.

 

Jackson should be much improved with a year of experience, and that should help him cut down the turnovers a little bit. I expect him to have a big year this year. Barton will likely be the leading scorer again, and like Jackson, he needs to cut down on the turnovers and make better decisions. But from everything I’ve heard, he has improved his handle and gotten a little stronger this offseason(he’s still very skinny though).  Black should be there main big man, and was very good last season. Like you said he needs to stay out of foul trouble though. He has actualy lost 22 pounds(he was never really fat), and is much more explosive. Also, he is atleast 6’8, maybe 6’9. He is a very underrated NBA prospect imo, I could easily see him being a first round pick next year, if he were to enter. Witherspoon is very interesting, because he was the leading scorer last season until he got injured. He is now 100%, and should have all off his explosiveness back. He will probably start, but I’m not really sure what to expect from him. He could be very good and a key player on the team, or just a good role player. Adonis should help a lot defensively and on the glass, not sure how much he will do on the offensive end. He will play mostly on the wing though.

 

Also, I don’t think Simpson will start, unless he plays very well in practice. I think he will be a good role player though, and add size and depth to the frontcourt.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Memphis is my favorite team..I credit them for introducing me to the game of basketball..Becuz the 1st sporting event i ever attended was a Memphis State game when i was 6…

They have the deepest backcourt in the country..Jackson was very inconsistent last season,but when he was on his game the team looked unbeatable…I hope going and playing at that Under 19 Camp helped him to develope his playmaking skills…Some might say Antonio had a better freshman year than his more heralded brother Will..

I’ve been saying for 3 years that this will be the year Witherspoon breakout and so far he’s been a disappointment..He has the length,all around game and defensive skills to be a lottery pick…But if he plays this year,like he has the previous 3 ,he’s going undrafted…

Coach Pastner is growing as this team grows…

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Memphis is my favorite team..I credit them for introducing me to the game of basketball..Becuz the 1st sporting event i ever attended was a Memphis State game when i was 6…

They have the deepest backcourt in the country..Jackson was very inconsistent last season,but when he was on his game the team looked unbeatable…I hope going and playing at that Under 19 Camp helped him to develope his playmaking skills…Some might say Antonio had a better freshman year than his more heralded brother Will..

I’ve been saying for 3 years that this will be the year Witherspoon breakout and so far he’s been a disappointment..He has the length,all around game and defensive skills to be a lottery pick…But if he plays this year,like he has the previous 3 ,he’s going undrafted…

Coach Pastner is growing as this team grows…

[Author]

Posts