By RUSS STEINBERG
NEW YORK — James Wiseman, R.J. Hampton, Jalen Green and 17 other elite high school prospects descended on Dykman Park on Saturday for the SLAM Summer Classic, giving a packed house a peak at the future.
Wiseman, the 7-foot center and consensus top 2019 prospect in America, quite literally rose above the rest for the victorious Team Ramsey. The Memphis native’s list currently stands at eight and he has a visit to Kansas upcoming, but Memphis and Kentucky are widely considered the favorites.
James Wiseman @BigTicket_JW with the putback dunk today at the SLAM Summer Classic courtesy my man @Russ_Steinberg pic.twitter.com/DmT3sJwZy1
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) August 18, 2018
He touted his relationship with new Memphis coach Penny Hardaway — Wiseman’s former high school and AAU coach — as a reason he likes the Tigers before adding that Kentucky would also be a great option. When it comes to making his final decision, Wiseman said there are a variety of factors that will come into play, taking time to list each of them.
“If I can fit well in the system, the atmosphere, and being able to create great relationships with my coaches and teammates,” he said.
With Wiseman’s friend and AAU teammate DJ Jeffries recently decommitted from Kentucky, the two have been in close contact about what is coming next. The natural speculation is that they might team up in college.
“We talk to each other, but if you fit well at a different college, go there,” Wiseman said. “We’re not trying to push each other to go to the same college.”
R.J. HAMPTON, JALEN GREEN ANNOUNCE MEMPHIS VISIT
Speaking of Memphis, Wiseman’s teammate for the day, Hampton .made news by announcing an upcoming official visit to Memphis with Jalen Green, the Class of 2020 shooting guard from Fresno (CA).
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported the visit is Sept. 13-14.
In April, Green played for Memphis assistant Sam Mitchell on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit, as Mark Giannotto of the Memphis Commercial Appeal pointed out.
“They know how to talk to the kids,” Rod Hampton told the paper. “They’re not too far removed from the league, and these guys want to get to the league.”
@Mikemiller_13 @memphis_mbb@iam1cent pic.twitter.com/OAf58x5CLm
— ????? ??????? ????? (@JalenRomande) August 18, 2018
For now. Hampton is considering reclassifying to 2019 and says a final decision will hopefully come next January or February. The decision, he says, will be based on the coaches and players at the school he ultimately chooses and whether he is mentally and physically prepared for college. Duke and Kansas are among the favorites to land him, but Memphis is now in the mix.
“The style of play is important,” he said. “I’m a fast-paced guard that goes up and down. I can shoot the ball and get to the basket. I don’t want just a set offense every time I come down the court.”
CASSIUS STANLEY BREAKS DOWN TOP SCHOOLS
On the other side of the court on Saturday, there was 2019’s Cassius Stanley. The Los Angeles product says he is considering schools from around the country, but several from the Pac-12 are in play. He says he has visits to Oregon and Kansas coming up next, with trips to USC and UCLA to follow. USC has widely been regarded as the favorite.
Stanley on those four:
Oregon: “I like Oregon because I’ve seen players from my area succeed like Jordan Bell and Tyler Dorsey. So it’s been cool to see them grow up and progress. I like the way coach Altman is talking to me and how is going to use me. He says he needs a big guard who can take the pressure off the little, small guard. That will fit me perfectly.”
Kansas: “[Coach Bill Self] likes how I can handle the ball and relieve pressure from the other guy. And how I can guard other positions because I’m so athletic and big.”
USC and UCLA: “They’re giving me the hometown pitch. ‘You’re going to be the guy. It’s your city, you’ve been here your whole life.’ I live eight minutes from UCLA and USC is 30 minutes away. It’s close and it’s home. It’s important, but I’m looking for the best fit.”
PRECIOUS ACHIUWA HAS NO LIST YET
The Bronx’s Precious Achiuwa — a 2019 forward who announced his transfer to Montverde (FL) Academy — wasn’t as ready to talk about specific schools as other players were, shaking off questions about his list and saying he doesn’t have any visits on the horizon. He did, however, share that his priority when he does get to college will be to get ready for the NBA:
“It’s going to be a place that’s going to get me to the next level. A place I can go in and out as quick as possible,” he said. “A place that I feel comfortable playing with the players there and the coaching staff. A place I’m really comfortable at.”
In the meantime, Achiuwa says he plans to stay in the gym, fine-tuning his skillset and perfecting a game that has already made him a five-star prospect.
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