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"This is Memphis. We don't bluff. We want all the smoke." - Penny Hardaway

By Trent Shadid

Memphis head basketball coach Penny Hardaway didn鈥檛 become an All-American, a first-round NBA draft pick, a 1996 Olympic gold medalist and a four-time NBA All-Star by shying away from high expectations.

Rather, he鈥檚 spent every turn in his life 鈥 a life full of basketball success 鈥 meeting the expectations head-on. It鈥檚 part of who he is and what he became growing up in Memphis and playing for the program he now leads.

The expectations he faces now are a result of the work he and his assistants have done on the recruiting trail. Hardaway and Co. have brought the No. 1 2019 recruiting class in the nation to campus.

The group is formed by seven of the very best players in the country. That鈥檚 shifted an immense amount of focus to the University of Memphis as basketball season draws closer. For Hardaway, that鈥檚 at least one very big mission accomplished.

鈥淲e want everything to be about Memphis,鈥 Hardaway said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what this city wants. That鈥檚 what we want. That鈥檚 who we are. We don鈥檛 want to shy away from anything. We want this type of a group because we want to win a national championship.

Coach Hardaway in team huddle | During Penny Hardaway's first season as head coach in 2018-19, the Tigers ranked No. 1 nationally in increased average home attendance.鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to hang our first banner in this building 鈥 or especially downtown at FedExForum 鈥 we are going to have to get talent. With talent comes expectations, and that鈥檚 what we want.鈥

James Wiseman 鈥 the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2019 class 鈥 could have gone to play for any of the top basketball schools in the country. The same is true for Precious Achiuwa, also a top 10 overall recruit in the class. D.J. Jeffries chose Memphis over Kentucky. Boogie Ellis decided the Tigers were a better option for him than Duke. Lester Quinones turned down Indiana on decision day. Malcolm Dandridge never had any doubts as he quickly became Hardaway鈥檚 first commitment. Damion Baugh went with Memphis over 2019 national runner-up Texas Tech.

The Tigers aren鈥檛 just competing against the blue bloods of college basketball for the best players, they are beating them.

"To be able to land the No. 1 recruiting class in the country is a blessing. I wanted this so badly for so many reasons."鈥淲hat we鈥檝e done (with this class) has been nothing short of amazing,鈥 Hardaway said. 鈥淭o be able to land the No. 1 recruiting class in the country is a blessing. I wanted this so badly for so many reasons.

鈥淭his is what the fans wanted, this is what the city needed, this is what the school needed 鈥 for us to be relevant again around the country in a positive light.鈥

For Hardaway, this recruiting class also provides some national vindication in regard to his ability as a recruiter. While he never doubted the top high school players from all over the country would sign to play for his Tigers, many outside voices 鈥 particularly other coaches and some members of the media 鈥 weren鈥檛 so sure. The freshman class includes players from four different states 鈥 one each from California and Mississippi, two from New York and three from Tennessee.

鈥淚 think everybody thought it was just going to be a show when I took over,鈥 Hardaway said. 鈥淭hey thought it was just going to be local kids, and I was going to have a problem recruiting around the country. They definitely underestimated what we can do.鈥

No one is underestimating Hardaway鈥檚 recruiting ability now. He鈥檚 emphatically proven himself on that front.

But now, the focus has shifted to bringing this team of extraordinary talents together. With that comes another set of lofty expectations, which of course, Hardaway is embracing.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 make any predictions,鈥 Hardaway said. 鈥淚 just know we have as good of talent as anyone. It鈥檚 up to us as a staff to try and bring that together as fast as we can.鈥


2019 Recruiting Class

James Wiseman
James Wiseman

7-1 | Center
Hometown: Nashville   |   Previous school: East High School (Memphis)
Highlights
鈥 No. 1 overall recruit in the 2019 class
鈥 Gatorade National Player of the Year
鈥 Averaged 25.8 points, 14.8 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game as a high school senior

 

Precious Achiuwa
Precious Achiuwa

6-9 | Forward
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.   |   Previous school: Montverde Academy (Fla.)
Highlights
鈥 No. 9 overall recruit in the 2019 class
鈥 McDonald's All-American
鈥 Chose Memphis over finalists Kansas, North Carolina, UConn and Georgia

 

Boogie Ellis
Boogie Ellis

6-3 | Guard
Hometown: San Diego   |   Previous school: Mission Bay High School
Highlights
鈥 No. 32 overall recruit in the 2019 class
鈥 Jordan Brand All-American
鈥 Had a 51-point game and a 43-point game as a high school senior

 

D.J. Jeffries
D.J. Jeffries

6-7 | Forward
Hometown: Olive Branch, Miss    |   Previous school: Olive Branch High School
Highlights
鈥 No. 49 overall recruit in the 2019 class
鈥 No. 1 recruit from Mississippi in the 2019 class
鈥 Averaged 23.3 points and 12.8 rebounds as a high school senior

 

Lester Quinones
Lester Quinones

6-5 | Guard
Hometown: Brentwood, NY    |   Previous school: IMG Academy (FL)
Highlights
鈥 No. 57 overall recruit in the 2019 class
鈥 Averaged 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists as a high school senior
鈥 Chose Memphis over finalists Indiana, Maryland, Michigan and LSU

 

Malcolm Dandridge
Malcolm Dandridge

6-9 | Center
Hometown: Memphis   |   Previous school: East High School
Highlights
鈥 No. 102 overall recruit in the 2019 class
鈥 First commitment for Penny Hardaway after he was named coach in 2018
鈥 Chose Memphis over a list of offers that included Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Tennessee

 

Damion Baugh
Damion Baugh

6-3 | Guard
Hometown: Nashville   |   Previous school: Tennessee Prep Academy (Memphis)
Highlights
鈥 No. 112 overall recruit in the 2019 class
鈥 Recorded 10 triple-doubles as a high school senior
鈥 Chose Memphis over finalists TCU and Texas Tech

 


What the nation is saying about the 2019-20 Tigers:

鈥淭hey鈥檙e back in a big way, and it only took a little over a year to completely turn this program around.鈥 鈥 Scott Van Pelt, ESPN SportsCenter anchor

鈥淲hat (Hardaway鈥檚) done, in short order, is return Memphis to the national conversation and establish himself as a force in the sport.鈥 鈥 Gary Parrish, CBS Sports

鈥(Hardaway) has the momentum that nobody else has in the country right now.鈥 鈥 Jeff Goodman, Stadium

鈥淲elcome back, Memphis basketball. James Wiseman picks Tigers. Penny Hardaway just sent a city into a frenzy. Again.鈥 鈥 Dana O鈥橬eil, The Athletic

鈥淐an Hardaway land elite recruits? Will Hardaway bring excitement back to Memphis basketball? It's a resounding yes.鈥 鈥 Jeff Borzello, ESPN.com