Jalen Duren to Memphis

[formerlurker]

Touted Duren joins Memphis hoops for 2021-22

Jalen Duren, one of the top players in high school basketball, committed to Memphis on Friday and will reclassify into the 2021 class.

www.espn.com

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Touted Duren joins Memphis hoops for 2021-22

Jalen Duren, one of the top players in high school basketball, committed to Memphis on Friday and will reclassify into the 2021 class.

www.espn.com

Tons of pressure on Penny to actually do something this year.

According to Pomeroy, Memphis was the #1 defense last year thanks to their second best perimeter D, and top-11 ranking in both block and steal%.

However, it only takes a few possessions of watching Memphis' offense to realize that Penny has not yet developed (and probably never will develop) offensive systems or sets to succeed in the NCAA. Statistically, they shoot well from deep (36.3%), rebound well (30th in nation), but give up a ton of turnovers (21.7 turnover% rate, 39th highest in nation), shoot 61.7% from the line (8th worst in the nation) and hit only 48.9% of shots from inside the arc (41st percentile).

Duren will certainly help their interior offense, but with a potential starting lineup below, they will not have that secure facilitator tonic that great teams need:

Jalen Duren 6'10 230
DeAndre Williams 6'9 190
Landers Nolley 6'7 230
Earl Timberlake 6'6 215
Lester Quinones 6'5 210

Crazy that Memphis is in the running for Emoni Bates too.

In summary, Memphis was an afterthought for me, but with Duren in the mix, I've got to check out a few of their games just to see if anything can come out of this newest (and last?) hurrah out of Memphis. Xavier has a chance to play Memphis on 11/26 if they matchup in the second game of the NIT season tip off (Xavier/Iowa State and Memphis/Virginia Tech are the two first round matchups).

 

[MemphisBlues]

Next it looks like it's between Oregon (Nike) and Memphis (FedEx) for Emoni Bates.

 

[M.S.G.]

Both of those spots make sense, but I still think he just goes to the G-League.

 

[MemphisBlues]

Because of his age Bates can't go to the NBA for two years. You really think he spends two years in the G League? You think the G League wants to babysit him for 2 years? I think it's more likely he spends one year in college and then the next year in the G League.

 

[formerlurker]

Both of those spots make sense, but I still think he just goes to the G-League.

I thought that's what Duren would do but seeing as how FedEx doesn't have to hide payments anymore I can see going to college. In my opinion Penny turns Memphis into Kentucky light with a bunch of one and done, high draft picks who never quite close the deal in the NCAA's. I'm more than pleased that Danny is taking a different approach to rebuilding and sustaining.

 

[M.S.G.]

I wasn't aware of that, wow. If he goes to college for one year doesn't that mean he's draft eligible the next year though?

 

[MemphisBlues]

Bates does not turn 19 until January of 2023. So he's not eligible for two seasons. Plus NIL money has evened the playing field between some college programs and the G league for the top players.

 

[Jay-Bone]

Tons of pressure on Penny to actually do something this year.

According to Pomeroy, Memphis was the #1 defense last year thanks to their second best perimeter D, and top-11 ranking in both block and steal%.

However, it only takes a few possessions of watching Memphis' offense to realize that Penny has not yet developed (and probably never will develop) offensive systems or sets to succeed in the NCAA. Statistically, they shoot well from deep (36.3%), rebound well (30th in nation), but give up a ton of turnovers (21.7 turnover% rate, 39th highest in nation), shoot 61.7% from the line (8th worst in the nation) and hit only 48.9% of shots from inside the arc (41st percentile).

Duren will certainly help their interior offense, but with a potential starting lineup below, they will not have that secure facilitator tonic that great teams need:

Jalen Duren 6'10 230
DeAndre Williams 6'9 190
Landers Nolley 6'7 230
Earl Timberlake 6'6 215
Lester Quinones 6'5 210

Crazy that Memphis is in the running for Emoni Bates too.

In summary, Memphis was an afterthought for me, but with Duren in the mix, I've got to check out a few of their games just to see if anything can come out of this newest (and last?) hurrah out of Memphis. Xavier has a chance to play Memphis on 11/26 if they matchup in the second game of the NIT season tip off (Xavier/Iowa State and Memphis/Virginia Tech are the two first round matchups).

Hopefully the development for him goes better than Cisse, although he appears much less raw. That's a stacked lineup yet again. Deondre was a nice surprise for them.

 

[husky429]

Both of those spots make sense, but I still think he just goes to the G-League.

He could get a huge contract. I bet they're thinking Bates in the G-League for two years would be really great for league branding.

 

[SportsFan88]

Bates isn’t as “can’t miss” anymore than he was a year a two ago. I heard rumblings that he hasn’t really gotten all that better since his freshman year. That’s probably being kept in mind as well

 

[husky429]

Bates isn’t as “can’t miss” anymore than he was a year a two ago. I heard rumblings that he hasn’t really gotten all that better since his freshman year. That’s probably being kept in mind as well

.
He's been coached only by his dad for the past 3 years outside of a few AAU games. That and getting hos growth spurt early has really impacted him. Definitely still a top 5 pick kind of player, just not the "best prospect since Lebron" they were hyping up.

 

[mauconnfan]

Bates does not turn 19 until January of 2023. So he's not eligible for two seasons. Plus NIL money has evened the playing field between some college programs and the G league for the top players.

Doubt Memphis needs the NIL money to even the playing field.

 

[SportsFan88]

.
He's been coached only by his dad for the past 3 years outside of a few AAU games. That and getting hos growth spurt early has really impacted him. Definitely still a top 5 pick kind of player, just not the "best prospect since Lebron" they were hyping up.

 

[uconnfan68]

Next it looks like it's between Oregon (Nike) and Memphis (FedEx) for Emoni Bates.

Someone sees the $$$…

 

[navery12]

 

[HooperScooper]

Now we’ll get to see whether Penny can coach a lick.

 

[UConnStats]

They still won’t win it all

 

[rollskies]

I still have zero faith in Penny’s ability to coach at the college level. He has absolutely zero excuses this season.

No question he can recruit with the best of them and bring in amazing young talent. His staff is all retired NBA players/coaches so it’s no shock

I personally think Goodman is out of pocket saying they are arguably top 5 in the country

 

[Dooooooomed]

Back-to-back NIT Champs. Penny hangs another banner.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

They still don't have a point guard.

IMO, they still aren't the best team in the AAC. Still Houston.

They've got a good OOC between Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Saint Louis, Xavier/Iowa State, Ole Miss, Western Kentucky and Murray State. If they enter AAC play with three or less losses, I'll be impressed.

 

[HooperScooper]

I still have zero faith in Penny’s ability to coach at the college level. He has absolutely zero excuses this season.

No question he can recruit with the best of them and bring in amazing young talent. His staff is all retired NBA players/coaches so it’s no shock

I personally think Goodman is out of pocket saying they are arguably top 5 in the country

Just like all the media putting Kentucky top 5 every year because of a great recruiting class coming in. Hardly ever works that way.

 

[MemphisBlues]

It's been rumored for a while now that the coaches want to try Bates at point guard. If they can pull it off that solves one problem. Memphis has six players who need to see starters minutes - and one will still have to swallow his pride and come off the bench ---even with Emoni at point guard. Be interesting to see if Penny can manage that talent.

 

[Tampahusky]

They are very impressive with their talent and coaches they have.

 

[Stinger92860]

They are very impressive with their talent and coaches they have.

Yet lacking in execution