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ESPN 100 Wesley Witherspoon picks Memphis
ESPN 100 prospect Wesley Witherspoon verbally committed to Memphis at a press conference on Thursday. The 6-foot-8 small forward credited coach John Calipari as the main reason for his decision. "To be honest, it was all about coach Cal," he said. "He will help me get the most out of my game."
ESPN's Recruiting Coordinator Antonio Williams thinks Witherspoon is a perfect fit for the Tigers. "Wesley gives the Tigers a versatile, athletic presence on the wing," Williams said.
"He has the skills and upside of a superstar but the attitude of a very humble young man. If he remains grounded, Memphis coach John Calipari has the coaching expertise to help develop him into a star at Memphis."
Williams explains why Witherspoon is one of the top 100 players in his class. "He has a very quick first step and good ball-handling ability for his height, which makes him good penetrator," Williams said. "Once in the paint, he has the leaping ability to explode over defenders and finish with a dunk. Witherspoon's jump shot continues to improve as he adds range on the perimeter.
He also has impressive passing skills for his size and loves to set teammates up for shot. His long arms, quick reflexes, and good lateral speed make him a premier defender with the ability to guard all three perimeter positions. Witherspoon will develop into a star if he continues to add strength and muscle to his frame in addition to improving his jump shot."
"With the departure of talented perimeter players and leading scorers Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts, Witherspoon has a chance to have an immediate impact at Memphis," Williams went on to say. "Calipari loves to have athletic wing guys to play passing lanes and pressure defense, bothering the opposition with their length which suits Witherspoon's skill-set and attitude perfectly. On the offensive end, Witherspoon has the quickness, leaping ability, and athleticism to flourish in Calipari's up-tempo attack. Also with Tyreke Evans coming in,
Witherspoon has the ability to distribute the ball and have a positive impact on the game without constantly having plays run for him. Witherspoon and Evans give the Tigers two very athletic wings guys with length that Calipari loves to put on the floor. With Evans' scoring ability and Witherspoon's passing ability and mentality, they should both complement each other well."
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Witherspoon 5/2
