BLUFF CITY LEGENDS M E M H P I S ,
T E N N E S S E E
OVERVIEW The program formerly known as Team Penny had a solid 2017, racking up a 10-6 regular season record while graduating seven players to the next level. Their Peach Jam run didn’t go as planned, but luckily for the Bluff City Legends, this season’s roster should make that a distant memory. The Legends will carry 13 players onto the circuit, highlighted by six returners; James Wiseman, DJ Jeffries, Chandler Lawson, Malcolm Dandridge Jordan Johnson and Arecko Gipson. Throw in newcomer Zion Harmon, a ninth-grade five-star recruit who led Boo Williams to the Elite Eight last season, and you’re looking at arguably the scariest roster in all of grassroots basketball. THE BACKCOURT: It sounds strange to say, but the freshman Harmon is a seasoned veteran in the EYBL. The 5-foot-10 floor general ran with We All Can Go (TN) in 2016 and Boo Williams (VA) a year ago, and he has to be giddy about the weapons at his disposal in ‘18. Findlay Prep (NV) junior Ashton Smith is a high-energy point guard with a smooth shooting stroke from deep, and should be a terrific complement to Harmon’s skills. Smith helped guide the Pilots to GEICO Nationals, and will welcome the spotlight that comes with playing for Memphis’ Nike EYBL representative. The aforementioned veteran Johnson (6-foot-1) returns after recently reclassifying to Tennessee Prep, looking to improve on 2017 averages of 7.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20 games. A trio of juniors - Tyrus Baynham Jr, Keishawn Davidson and Amorey Womack, will fight for significant minutes off the bench, while the 6-foot-8 Jeffries (247 No. Composite 26) is capable of sliding to the shooting guard position when the Legends go big. THE FRONT COURT: Wiseman put up 17.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks over the course of 19 minutes per game this season for Memphis East (TN), while his teammate Lawson averaged 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 20 minutes per game. Throw in the 6-foot-9 Dandridge (247 4-star) and Jeffries, who averaged 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a year ago and is fresh off MVP honors in Olive Branch’s MHSAA 5A state title run, and the Legends frontcourt becomes an embarrassment of riches. Their experience from 2017 will be invaluable, and is a big reason why they’ll be pre-ranked atop the entire EYBL. The 6-foot-6 Gipson will take on the same energy as a year ago, while 6-foot-5 junior Sky Forest will fight for minutes off the bench.
T H E S TA R There are stars all over the place in this lineup, so we’ll go with their highest-ranked player in Wiseman, who doubles as the highest-ranked player in his class. As his lofty ranking indicates, the 7-foot, 240-pound Wiseman is a special prospect and has showcased the skills, athleticism and defensive ability of a future NBA top-five pick. Wiseman averaged a modest 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in 2017, and we expect him to completely shatter those numbers this spring and summer. He may not lead the Legends in scoring, but it’s almost a certainty that Wiseman will be their most important player on both ends of the floor. Lawson, Jeffries and Harmon are stars in their own right, and all three should benefit greatly running alongside Wiseman. Expect the Legends’ big man to have a stellar season, while displaying moments of utter dominance.
TEAM INFO
2017 R E C OR D: 10- 6 DIR E C TOR: D UJ UAN TAY LO R
T H E X - FACTO R The Legends’ frontcourt is on a completely different level, which means the guards will need to hold their own. Harmon is going to be steady with the ball in his hands, and if Smith can become an interchangeable option at point guard while the other guards find their niche, then Bluff City will be virtually unstoppable. Former Head Coach Penny Hardaway recently departed the program to become the head coach at the University of Memphis, which cued the name change back to Bluff City. Fortunately for their fans, the talent didn’t leave when Penny did. The Bluff City Legends will start the season as the topranked team on the circuit, and will consequently have a gigantic target on their backs when they tip off in Dallas.
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