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Written by Brooks Hansen On August - 6 - 2009Email Author

MEN’S SCHEDULE TAKING SHAPE

The summer has come and gone. With the summer evaluation period behind the men’s basketball coaches, they now turn their attention to the fall. No more sitting on the baselines, idly watching the future stars run by. The 2009-2010 non-conference men’s basketball schedule was just announced at GoTigersGo.com. The very first chance for fans to get a sneak peek at this year’s team will be at Memphis Madness, which has been set for Friday, October 16th. The first exhibition game will be held on November 3rd and the regular season opener will be on November 13th.

2009-10 Memphis Basketball Schedule (Non-Conference/Exhibitions Only)

Nov. 3 - LeMoyne-Owen (exhibition)
Nov. 9 - Christian Brothers (exhibition)
Nov. 13 - Jackson State
Nov. 17 - vs. Kansas (St. Louis, Mo.)
Nov. 20 - Tennessee Tech
Nov. 24 - Central Arkansas
Nov. 30 - Oakland
Dec. 5 - Arkansas State
Dec. 9 - Montana State
Dec. 12 - vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (North Little Rock, Ark.)
Dec. 19 - vs. UMass (Boston, Mass.)
Dec. 22 - Southeast Missouri State
Dec. 28 - IUPUI
Dec. 31 - Tennessee
Jan. 3 - Houston Baptist
Jan. 6 - at Syracuse
Feb. 6 - Gonzaga

BOOST MOBILE ELITE 24 ANNOUNCED

ESPN Rise announced the complete rosters for the 4th annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 held at the famed Rucker Park.The event showcases 24 of the top high school basketball players regardless of class, chosen based on their performances at AAU tournaments and national summer camps. Eight of the players named to the game have already committed to colleges, which include Dion Waiters to Syracuse, Terrence Ross to Maryland, Myck Kabongo and Tristan Thompson to Texas, Austin Rivers to Florida, Jared Sullinger to Ohio State, Kendall Marshall to North Carolina, and Will Barton to Memphis. The event will take place on Friday, August 21 at 7 p.m. E.T. and will be televised on tape delay Saturday, August 22 at 7 p.m. E.T. on ESPNU.

Name	High School	Pos.	Height	Weight	Class
Austin Rivers	Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.)	PG	6-4	190	2011
CJ Leslie	Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.)	PF	6-8	205	2010
Cory Joseph	Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)	PG	6-3	180	2010
DaJuan Coleman	Jamesville-DeWitt (DeWitt, N.Y.)	PF	6-8	280	2012
Dion Waiters	Life Center (Burlington, N.J.)	SG	6-3	200	2010
Doron Lamb	Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)	SG	6-4	185	2010
Harrison Barnes	Ames (Ames, Iowa)	SG	6-8	210	2010
Jared Sullinger	Northland (Columbus, Ohio)	PF	6-9	235	2010
Joe Jackson	White Station (Memphis, Tenn.)	PG	5-11	165	2010
Josh Selby	Lake Clifton (Baltimore, Md)	PG	6-3	185	2010
Josh Smith	Kentwood (Covington, Wash)	C	6-9	280	2010
Kendall Marshall	Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.)	PG	6-4	180	2010
Kyrie Erving	St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.)	PG	6-2	175	2010
Myck Kabongo	St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.)	PG	6-2	160	2011
Perry Ellis	Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.)	PF	6-7	205	2012
Phil Pressey	Episcopal School (Dallas, Texas)	PG	5-11	160	2010
Rakeem Christmas	Academy of New Church (Bryn Athyn, Pa)	PF	6-9	220	2011
Roscoe Smith	Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)	SF	6-7	185	2010
Terrence Jones	Jefferson (Portland, Ore.)	SF	6-8	220	2010
Terrence Ross	Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.)	SF	6-6	180	2010
Tobias Harris	Half Hollow Hills West (Dix Hills, N.Y.)	Pf	6-8	210	2010
Tony Wroten Jr.	Garfield (Seattle, Wash.)	PG	6-5	200	2011
Tristan Thompson	Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)	PF	6-9	230	2010
Will Barton	Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)	SG	6-6	160	2010

In addition to Will Barton, other Memphis prospects to keep an eye on are Cory Joseph (’10), Joe Jackson (’10), Perry Ellis (’12), Roscoe Smith (’10), and Tobias Harris (’10). Memphis Roar is working to have someone in attendance to cover the game.

Due to his age and class, Perry Ellis sticks out like a sore thumb on this list. Ellis is one of only two rising sophomores that was invited to the game (DaJuan Coleman was the other). With this invitation being a rare honor for a player who just finished his freshman year of high school. Ellis averaged 19.5 ppg in his first season of high school basketball and helped lead his Wichita Heights team to a one-loss season, culminating with a state championship. This will be Ellis’ first action back after injuring his ankle at the LeBron James Skills Academy in July.

“My husband and I are very honored to have our son Perry invited to the 2009 Boost Mobile Elite 24 Event at Rucker Park in New York,”‘ Perry’s mother Fonda Ellis said.

Perry will have the benefit of being somewhat familiar with some of the other players playing in the event after being invited and playing in some of the premier events throughout the summer.

“Perry has met several of these players already this summer either at the Vince Carter Skills academy and/or the Lebron James Skills Academy/King James Classic,” Fonda Ellis said.

As for the honor of being invited and playing in the event, that is somthing that the entire Ellis family is aware of.

“I told Perry that this is a great experience for him that not everyone gets to play at Rucker Park,” said Fonda Ellis of the event. “There is quite some history there and to be part of that is a once in a life time experience,” added Fonda Ellis.

In addition to the game, the invitees will also have a chance to help out in the community, something that the Ellis family is very happy and proud to do.

“The players will also be doing a community service project in N.Y. and that is something that Perry will be able to share with people his whole life,” said Fonda Ellis.

Memphis Roar was also informed that the Ellis family has tentative plans on being in attendance again at this year’s Memphis Madness on October 16th.

CRAWFORD CANCELS

Earlier this week, we were informed that Chris Crawford was planning on visiting Knoxville, TN for an elite camp. Having a chance to speak with someone close to the Memphis Magic yesterday afternoon, we confirmed that Crawford changed his mind, cancelling his trip to Knoxville. On Tuesday, Crawford sat down with his mother and a few others to discuss his recruitment and the upcoming school year. As a result, it was decided that a trip to east Tennessee may interfere with the renewed and concentrated focus going into Crawford’s senior year at Sheffield High School. With classes beginning next week, Crawford cancelled and is now looking forward to taking care of business in the classroom the same way he took care of business on the court in July.

OTHER NOTES

- The University of Memphis Alumni Association Nashville Club is putting on a Nashville Tiger Golf Class. The Second Annual Nashville Tiger Golf Classic will be held on August 15, 2009 at the beautiful Gaylord Springs Golf Links in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, please visit the Nashville Tiger Golf Classic Website.

- The University of Memphis will hold a Vision Forum on August 22nd. If you did not get an invitation to the Vision Forum and would like to attend, please contact Shawn Carter to express your interest in attending.

Shawn M. Carter
Coordinator, Alumni & Constituent Programs
University of Memphis
635 Normal Street
Memphis, TN 38152
901-678-5016 (phone)
901-678-3035 (fax)

- The 2009 Memphis Rebounders Golf Classic will be held at the TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tn on Monday September 21, 2009. The format is a four-man scramble (allowing for two mulligans per player) and will include the following: player gift bags, drinks on the course, and 3 flights with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards given. The first place awards will be autographed basketballs signed by the coaching staff, and the 2009/2010 team. The balls will be in acrylic cases with special engraving. This is a truly a one of a kind award donated by Tiger Gift Shop. Second place will be engraved Silver Plates. In addition, Coach Pastner, Assistant Coaches, former players and other celebrities will attend. The cost is only $200.00 per player and $800.00 per team. Hole sponsorships only $250.00, see application for further sponsorship opportunities. You can register online at the Tiger Gift Shop.

- GoTigersGo has put up their official 2009-2010 Tiger Football Wallpaper.