In today’s vlog, we dive into the latest buzz surrounding the Memphis Tigers Men’s basketball program, mainly focusing on transfer portal prospects. It’s been just a few days since the announcement that David Jones won’t return to the program, opting to pursue a career in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Arthur Kaluma Breakdown
Memphis appears to be the frontrunner in the race to secure the services of Kansas State wing Arthur Kaluma. Standing tall at 6’7 and boasting the title of a junior, Kaluma is touted as the prime candidate to fill the void left by David Jones, who’s set to embark on his NBA journey. Notably, Memphis has a history of recruiting former K-State players, as seen with the addition of Nae’Qwan Tomlin last season. However, despite Tomlin’s contributions, the Tigers fell short of NCAA tournament qualification.
Kaluma’s credentials as a five-star transfer portal prospect, as rated by college basketball analyst Evan Miya, only add to the anticipation surrounding his potential arrival. In his stint with the Wildcats, Kaluma showcased impressive stats, averaging 14.5 points and seven rebounds per game while maintaining a 35% accuracy from beyond the arc. His strengths lie in his athleticism, long wingspan, and sharpshooting ability, particularly evident in his knack for sinking deep three-pointers. While Memphis remains Kaluma’s favorite destination, his decision to commit to the program has yet to be confirmed.
Garwey Dual Taken Off the Board for Memphis
Memphis’s pursuit of transfer portal prospect Garwey Dual has ended, with reports indicating that Dual has committed to Seton Hall. The news emerged after college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein disclosed on Thursday that Memphis had shown interest in the former Providence guard. Other programs, such as Texas A&M, Georgia, and BYU, had also expressed interest in acquiring Dual’s talents. During his time with the Friars, Dual averaged 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 33.1% from the field.
Memphis Reached Out to Top Big West Conference Scorer
According to reports from the Commercial Appeal’s Jason Munz, Memphis has reached out to CSUN’s 6-foot-6 wing De’Sean Allen-Eikens, adding an intriguing prospect to their radar. Allen-Eikens, a first-team All-Big West selection, showcased his scoring prowess by averaging 18.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season while shooting over 36% from beyond the arc. However, the story has a twist as Allen-Eikens may need a medical hardship waiver to be eligible for another season, making his situation a bit uncertain. Despite applying for a waiver due to playing 14 games in the 21-22 season, NCAA rules pose a significant challenge as players cannot exceed 30% of their team’s games for eligibility. With Allen-Eikens surpassing this threshold at 43.7%, his path to eligibility appears to be an uphill climb.
Nonetheless, Memphis’s interest in players like Allen-Eikens and Arthur Kaluma underscores their pursuit of a viable wing player akin to David Jones’s contributions last season. While Memphis remains favored to win the AAC, their NCAA tournament prospects could be limited without a clear-cut impact player like Jones. Adding a talent like Kaluma could offer a different dynamic to the roster; although Allen-Eikens shows promise, his current situation may prompt Memphis to prioritize their pursuit of Kaluma.
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