The 2022 Recruiting class’ number one recruit Jalen Duren has committed to the Memphis Tigers and will reclassify to the 2021 class. Head Coach Penny Hardaway has landed perhaps his best recruit ever and maybe even the best recruit to ever play for the Memphis Tigers. Duren will now enroll in classes at Memphis this fall and will be eligible to play for the program this season. He picked the Memphis Tigers over the G League Ignite team, Maimi Hurricanes and, Kentucky Wildcats.
Breaking: Jalen Duren, the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2022, has reclassified into the class of 2021 and committed to Memphis, according to @PaulBiancardi.
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— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 6, 2021
Duren is a very talented prospect and is already projected to go near the top of the NBA Lottery in the 2022 NBA Draft. Memphis is loaded coming into this season. Duren will be joining four-star forward Josh Minott, four-star center Sam Ayomide, four-star forward Jonathan Lawson, and three-star forward John Camden coming into Memphis this year. The Tigers are also bringing in transfers Chandler Lawson from Oregon, Tyler Harris from Iowa State, and Earl Timberlake from Miami.
Landing Duren is massive, but now rumors are circulating to the other top 2022 recruit, Emoni Bates. He also recently reclassified to the 2021 class and has been linked to Memphis along with other programs. A team-up between Bates and Duren has been rumored and if it happens would make Memphis a virtual superteam this year if they aren’t already. The Bates decision is looming, but nothing is confirmed yet. Penny Hardaway seems to be attempting the formation of a direct pipeline to the NBA via the Memphis Tigers. For now, Duren is a talented recruit and should make Memphis a threat in March.
