It appears the long winding recruitment of James Wiseman is coming to a close. Paul Biancardi of ESPN went to Twitter this morning and posted that the "Big Ticket" will go on Tuesday's noon SportsCenter and make his decision.
There will be five schools awaiting the verdict: Kentucky, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Kansas, and Florida State. Although Wiseman's mother has said that each program is still in the race, it is widely assumed that this is a two horse race between the Wildcats and Tigers.
If it seems that the Cats have been recruiting Wiseman forever, it is because they have. In the recruiting world, they have been chasing the five-star center for much of his high school career, which equals an eternity. According to our records, the coaching staff first came in to see him on September 2016, and offered roughly a year later.
At that time, Wiseman was attending the prestigious Ensworth School in West Nashville. While he was living in Music City he appeared to be all but a lock for John Calipari. Kentucky had always been his favorite program, and there was little secret with those who followed him in the city that they were a strong leader. But once again there was lots of terrain still left to tread.
The pieces started to fall place in the spring of his sophomore year. In May of 2017, Wiseman would become part of Hardaway's stable, and his recruitment would be altered beyond all recognition. Wiseman played with Team Bradley Beal (formerly the St. Louis Eagles) also of the EYBL. Wiseman didn't show for the third of the four spring sessions which was in Los Angeles. Word got out that Saturday that he would be playing with Team Penny the following weekend and beyond. Not only would he be there in the spring and summer, he would be transferring and playing with Memphis East in the winter.
Kentucky was still considered the leader, but as time wore on, Wiseman's influence on the young man just became stronger. After ten months of building the player/coach bond, the game changer occured last March.
Tubby Smith was fired as Head Coach at the University of Memphis, and favorite son, Penny Hardaway, was the overwhelming fans' choice to take the reigns. He was a product of the basketball crazy city. He was widely considered the best high school player in the history of the local prep scene. He starred for his hometown college, and had a fifteen year career in the NBA.
Hardaway put himself on the coaching map though with his success as Head Coach at Memphis East High School, who won three straight State Championships, as well as the founder of Team Penny of the Nike EYBL circuit. He was able to round up much of the best talent in not only the Memphis but Mid-South area.
Overnight, the Tigers put themselves right there with the Wildcats in the lead pack in the Wiseman Sweepstakes.
Over the summer, other events started to trend in the Hardaway's favor. It had been widely speculated, in fact I reported it here, that Wiseman might not return to East,and that he was looking at a couple of renowned prep schools. But in August, he showed up and reported to school. Many consider this to be the death blow for the other schools.
Since then, he took all of his official visits, and received home visits from each coaching staff. But the frequency of his trips in different capacities to the Memphis campus was a disturbing factor for other coaches and fan bases. We have counted four times he made trips across town since September. There were official visits, unofficial visits, attendance at exhibition games, and even a quick drive with former high school and AAU teammate, Alex Lomax, to go watch Memphis commit, D.J. Jeffries play.
Kentucky has plenty to offer to Wiseman. Calipari's success rate of putting post players not only into the NBA but into the upper echelon of the league cannot be denied. Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Karl-Anthony Towns are living proof.
Also as I am told by just about every player, coach, parent, or analyst when I ask about the Wildcats' chances with a recruit, "Kentucky is Kentucky." The passion of the fan base, the facilities, and tradition are second to none. It is also one of the few places where it is a given that the team will compete for a National Championship.
But as one of my sources in Memphis, who picked Kentucky all along until just a few days ago told me, "I'm just reading the tea leaves." The final leaf that fell in my opinion was when Wiseman announced he was going to announce on Tuesday. I have not made a projection as of yet because I thought if some way he might wait until the spring, then Kentucky would be in good shape. If he was dead set on Memphis, why not go ahead and do it. Well, he's doing it.
It would make no sense to make himself so visible around the Memphis program, and then troll the city's fan base and go somewhere else, especially at the beginning of his high school season, when just about every game will be played inside the city limits or in the direct vicinity.
All of these events have left the Memphis coaching staff very confident. We have heard that they have been telling insiders and boosters around town for a couple of weeks that they will be getting Wiseman.
Even the most optimistic Tiger supporter in that city will tell you that if they were not in the picture, Wiseman would be a lock for Kentucky. They will also tell you if the Cats were not in the picture, he would have already committed to Memphis long ago.
Neither Wiseman nor his family have told me he is going to Memphis. This is based on a lot of circumstantial evidence that I certainly hope ends up being frivolous. But there are just too many litigating factors going in their favor not to project Memphis.
There will be five schools awaiting the verdict: Kentucky, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Kansas, and Florida State. Although Wiseman's mother has said that each program is still in the race, it is widely assumed that this is a two horse race between the Wildcats and Tigers.
If it seems that the Cats have been recruiting Wiseman forever, it is because they have. In the recruiting world, they have been chasing the five-star center for much of his high school career, which equals an eternity. According to our records, the coaching staff first came in to see him on September 2016, and offered roughly a year later.
At that time, Wiseman was attending the prestigious Ensworth School in West Nashville. While he was living in Music City he appeared to be all but a lock for John Calipari. Kentucky had always been his favorite program, and there was little secret with those who followed him in the city that they were a strong leader. But once again there was lots of terrain still left to tread.
The pieces started to fall place in the spring of his sophomore year. In May of 2017, Wiseman would become part of Hardaway's stable, and his recruitment would be altered beyond all recognition. Wiseman played with Team Bradley Beal (formerly the St. Louis Eagles) also of the EYBL. Wiseman didn't show for the third of the four spring sessions which was in Los Angeles. Word got out that Saturday that he would be playing with Team Penny the following weekend and beyond. Not only would he be there in the spring and summer, he would be transferring and playing with Memphis East in the winter.
Kentucky was still considered the leader, but as time wore on, Wiseman's influence on the young man just became stronger. After ten months of building the player/coach bond, the game changer occured last March.
Tubby Smith was fired as Head Coach at the University of Memphis, and favorite son, Penny Hardaway, was the overwhelming fans' choice to take the reigns. He was a product of the basketball crazy city. He was widely considered the best high school player in the history of the local prep scene. He starred for his hometown college, and had a fifteen year career in the NBA.
Hardaway put himself on the coaching map though with his success as Head Coach at Memphis East High School, who won three straight State Championships, as well as the founder of Team Penny of the Nike EYBL circuit. He was able to round up much of the best talent in not only the Memphis but Mid-South area.
Overnight, the Tigers put themselves right there with the Wildcats in the lead pack in the Wiseman Sweepstakes.
Over the summer, other events started to trend in the Hardaway's favor. It had been widely speculated, in fact I reported it here, that Wiseman might not return to East,and that he was looking at a couple of renowned prep schools. But in August, he showed up and reported to school. Many consider this to be the death blow for the other schools.
Since then, he took all of his official visits, and received home visits from each coaching staff. But the frequency of his trips in different capacities to the Memphis campus was a disturbing factor for other coaches and fan bases. We have counted four times he made trips across town since September. There were official visits, unofficial visits, attendance at exhibition games, and even a quick drive with former high school and AAU teammate, Alex Lomax, to go watch Memphis commit, D.J. Jeffries play.
Kentucky has plenty to offer to Wiseman. Calipari's success rate of putting post players not only into the NBA but into the upper echelon of the league cannot be denied. Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Karl-Anthony Towns are living proof.
Also as I am told by just about every player, coach, parent, or analyst when I ask about the Wildcats' chances with a recruit, "Kentucky is Kentucky." The passion of the fan base, the facilities, and tradition are second to none. It is also one of the few places where it is a given that the team will compete for a National Championship.
But as one of my sources in Memphis, who picked Kentucky all along until just a few days ago told me, "I'm just reading the tea leaves." The final leaf that fell in my opinion was when Wiseman announced he was going to announce on Tuesday. I have not made a projection as of yet because I thought if some way he might wait until the spring, then Kentucky would be in good shape. If he was dead set on Memphis, why not go ahead and do it. Well, he's doing it.
It would make no sense to make himself so visible around the Memphis program, and then troll the city's fan base and go somewhere else, especially at the beginning of his high school season, when just about every game will be played inside the city limits or in the direct vicinity.
All of these events have left the Memphis coaching staff very confident. We have heard that they have been telling insiders and boosters around town for a couple of weeks that they will be getting Wiseman.
Even the most optimistic Tiger supporter in that city will tell you that if they were not in the picture, Wiseman would be a lock for Kentucky. They will also tell you if the Cats were not in the picture, he would have already committed to Memphis long ago.
Neither Wiseman nor his family have told me he is going to Memphis. This is based on a lot of circumstantial evidence that I certainly hope ends up being frivolous. But there are just too many litigating factors going in their favor not to project Memphis.
