UConn-Memphis Will Feature a Matchup of Marquee Freshman
STORRS, Conn. – In two seasons playing together in the American Athletic Conference, UConn and Memphis have experienced a back-and-forth battle for supremacy.
Two seasons ago the Huskies beat the Tigers three times – including twice in Memphis – with all but the last being tightly contested games. UConn delivered a blowout in the third game on the Tigers' home court in the AAC Tournament. Memphis got even last season, winning both regular season games, and then prevailed on the recruiting scene, as well.
Only two conference schools cracked Rivals.com’s 2015 top 25 for recruiting classes and they will meet for the first time this season at 7 p.m.Saturday at Gampel Pavilion.
The Tigers (10-4, 1-0 AAC) had the 17th-best class in the rankings while the No. 23 Huskies (10-4, 1-1) checked in at 21st with just two players - Jalen Adams (23rd) and Steve Enoch (58th).
Adams said the Tigers vs. Huskies meeting Saturday is about this season and not recruiting numbers.“Not really,” he said about worrying about playing other top freshmen. “Our coaches give us a scouting report on teams and I just do my homework on them to see who are the high scorers, what they like to do. I just prepare for them just like I would anyone else.”
“I paid more attention (to the recruiting stuff) coming into college,” Adams said. “I wanted to see what other freshman had done and who I would be competing against.”
The prized piece of Memphis’ class is power forward Dedric Lawson, who was ranked 33rd in the country coming out of high school. The 6-foot-9 freshman has lived up to the billing with a team-high 14.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
Lawson ranks fifth among NCAA Division I freshman in rebounding and double-doubles, and is also ranked sixth in blocked shots (29). Overall, Adams has started once and has scored in double figures three times as the Huskies most productive freshman on a roster loaded with veterans.
Adams (5.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.2 apg) earned a spot in coach Kevin Ollie’s rotation right away and has had a few moments early in his career. He tried to spearhead a comeback against Gonzaga and also rallied UConn in the second half against Temple on Tuesday with seven straight points, but the Huskies went on to lose both games.
Enoch, who really only emerged as a basketball prospect over the past two years, has not had quite the impact as Adams. But with 7-footer Amida Brimah (broken finger) out of the lineup, the 6-foot-11 Enoch (2.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) has given the Huskies a few solid games off the bench.
For Memphis, Lawson’s brother – 6-foot-7 swingman K.J. Lawson (8.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg) has played in 10 games and started twice. He was ranked 54thin the Class of 2015 and is known for his toughness.
After losing several players, including star Austin Nichols (transfer to Virginia), the Tigers have had to rely more on their freshmen. Forward Nick Marshall (3.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 6 blocks) was the other Tiger recruit to crack the top 150 players and the 71st-ranked player has been mostly a contributor off the bench.
Guard Jeremiah Martin (2.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.3 apg) came in unranked, but has started four straight games and scored a season-high 10 points against South Carolina.
Freshman point guard Randall Broddie is also part of the class, but had a shoulder injury in the preseason and has yet to play a game. Late signee Craig Randall II (2.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg) has also been in the mix off the bench.
The Tigers, who received verbal commits from two players, have failed so far to capture the same recruiting magic for its Class of 2016. However, the Huskies have the sixth best class coming in with four players in Rivals’ Top 150: point guard Alterique Gilbert (36thranked), forwards Vance Jackson (72nd) and Mamadou Diarra (142nd) along with center Juwan Durham (31st).