The Tigers’ basketball team has lost six players since the end of the 2016-17 season. Memphis will return two scholarship players from last season, Jeremiah Martin and Jimario Rivers.
While two players graduate and six others transfer, the Tigers are losing eight of their top 10 scorers last season. Martin and Rivers are the only returning players who saw significant playing time.
Chad Rykhoek was the first player to transfer, and Craig Randall, Dedric Lawson, K.J. Lawson, Keon Clergeot and Markel Crawford followed him.
The Tigers will have to replace those players with freshmen or transfers to help the returning players from last season. Memphis already has five new recruits: three incoming freshman and two junior college transfers.
Here are players to watch for next season:
Point Guard Jeremiah Martin:
He started all 32 games for the Tigers last season, and led the team in minutes played. The point guard made improvements from his sophomore season, raising his numbers in almost every statistical category.
Martin served as the team’s defensive catalyst last season. He made big plays defensively and earned the praise of head coach Tubby Smith. Martin led the team with 58 steals.
He also led the team with 142 assists and was third on the team in blocks. Martin is the team’s highest scoring returning player. He averaged 10.3 points per game last season.
Forward Jimario Rivers:
Rivers came in as a transfer from Southwest Tennessee Community College last season and stepped in as a starter after Rykhoek's injury. He averaged 6.4 points per game and was second on the team in blocks.
He will be relied on in the post more next season because of the loss of the Lawsons and Rykhoek. He averaged only 3.5 rebounds per game. Rivers will need to improve on that to make up for the loss of the Lawson brothers, who averaged a combined 18 rebounds.
Rivers had a team high 56.9 field goal percentage last season, but he got a lot of open shots because Dedric was double-teamed. He will have to learn to score in other way next season.
Forward Karim Sameh Azab:
Azab had to sit out last season because the NCAA did not clear him, but he could be the starting center for the Tigers next season. He is 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 290 pounds.
Tubby Smith spoke highly of Azab in his post-season press conference and said he can step in and make a difference for the Tigers. Look for Azab to play a lot of minutes in the post alongside Jimario Rivers.
Combo Guard Jamal Johnson:
The three-star recruit from Birmingham, Alabama, has good size at the guard position at 6 feet 7 inches tall. He will probably see a lot of playing time because the only returning guard, who played quality minutes, is Martin.
Johnson is a solid scorer and will likely play off the ball in his freshman season. He is the No. 8 ranked combo guard in the nation and the No. 5 player in Alabama.
Small Forward David Nickelberry:
He is 6 feet 7 inches tall and can be described as a point-forward. His size and athleticism on the wing can earn him immediate playing time, especially because the Tigers will not return a wing player from last season.
He was the No. 43 ranked player at his position and No. 27 in the state of Florida. Nickelberry’s passing ability will be something to watch for next season.
Forward Victor Enoh:
Enoh is the one freshman who has returning players that could keep him off the court during his freshman year. He is a 6-foot-8-inch power forward who could grow into a big role as he improves through the season.
He will also have to compete with Kyvon Davenport, a junior college transfer. Rivers and Azab will have the inside track for most of the post minutes, but Enoh’s potential could find him minutes as a freshman.
Forward Kyvon Davenport:
Davenport is the No. 19 ranked junior college prospect in the nation and will likely find playing time in his first season.
The 6-foot 8-inch power forward averaged 16.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game at Georgia Highlands College. He was also in the top 10 in the nation in blocks during both of his seasons.
He can help the Tigers defensively and offensively during his first season. A coach from Georgia Highlands described Davenport as a stretch four that can defend multiple positions.
Combo Guard Kareem Brewton:
He is the No. 22 ranked junior college prospect and averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Brewton can be one of the Tigers top scorers next season.
He is not a great shooter, but he finds ways to score in the paint. Look for Brewton to help Martin with the ball handling duties this season.
University of Memphis head basketball coach Tubby Smith will lose almost all of his bench in 2017-18 basketball season.
