Go ahead and bookmark the guys over at GoHSSN.com. They will be streaming a good number of this summer’s AAU tournaments along with high school and prep events and games once their season starts again next fall.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tarik Black committed to the University of Memphis shortly after returning from his official visit to the University of Florida on Sunday. Black is rated by Scouts, Inc at a 94, coming in at #54 overall in the class of 2010 and the #14 power forward. Here is his most recent evaluation by Scouts, Inc:

“He is one of the most efficient players in this class, regardless of position. Black understands his role on the floor better than most big men and relishes in the fact he can defend, block shots and control the boards.”

Memphis Roar’s Clark Merriam had this to say about Black:

“An inside presence that will never go unnoticed, Black turned heads and grabbed attention with his monstrous blocks and dunks, often providing a much needed spark for his Magic team. Black worked a great deal over the summer on his offense. Inserting an effective hook shot/leaner, Black makes use of his body and is becoming a great all-around power forward. Black also displayed a good awareness on the court, finding the open man, and passing out of double teams down low. One thing Black can continue to improve on is his post-up moves on offense. Black has shown great improvement and can continue to develop on offense.”

With Black’s commitment, the 2010 Memphis class is now made up of seven total players. Black joins local players Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford to go along with national names like Will Barton, Antonio Barton, Jelan Kendrick and Hippolyte Tsafack.

Josh Pastner’s first recruiting class as a head coach is now the hands-down number one recruiting class in the country. Not only is this the best class in the nation for 2010, but it is one of the best classes assembled in the history of college basketball. No other team can lay claim to six 90-or-better rated prospects by Scouts, Inc. Discuss Black’s commitment here.
 

2010  Player Commits (not including Tarik Black)
NAME	POS	HT	WT	SCHOOL	RANK	GRADE	STATUS	NOTES
Will Barton	Shooting Guard	6-6	161	Brewster Academy (NH)	SG #1	97	Signed
Joe Jackson	Point Guard	5-11	175	White Station H.S. (TN)	PG #5	95	Signed
Jelan Kendrick	Shooting Guard	6-5	186	Wheeler H.S. (GA)	SG #4	95	Signed
Chris Crawford	Shooting Guard	6-4	189	Sheffield H.S. (TN)	SG #34	92	Signed
Hippolyte Tsafack	Power Forward	6-8	230	The Miller School (VA)	PF #41	91	Signed
Antonio Barton	Point Guard	6-2	170	Notre Dame Prep (MA)	PG #62	87	Signed

Check out Tarik Black’s highlight footage from the River City Showdown here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7l0B1PAv_E

Here is an interview with Black done over the summer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmpLzTf2U-Y

Pictures of Tarik Black in action can be seen in the River City Showdown tournament picture galleries below.

Photoshoot Album

RCS Day 1 Album

RCS Day 2 Album

RCS Day 3 Album

The Memphis Tigers’ recruiting success under Josh Pastner (pictured) is a fairly significant development. The Tigers, who check in at No. 3, recently added elite point guard prospect Joe Jackson (Memphis/White Station) to a class that already had talented guard Will Barton (Baltimore/Brewster Academy) and his brother, Antonio (Baltimore/Notre Dame Prep).

With the rankings expanding to 25, several programs, including Notre Dame and Virginia, have been added to the mix. There still is plenty of work to be done. Although more than half the players in the ESPNU 100 have picked their college, seven of the nation’s top 10 prospects have yet to decide. See the full rankings here.

With current players like Wesley Witherspoon and Preston Laird looking on along with fifty or so friends, family members and Tigers fans, Jackson put on his Memphis hat and put all of the speculation [/sarcasm] to rest.

Speaking with reporters in the street, Jackson said, “I am very excited. I am ready to get on campus now. I have been knowing this since my ninth grade year. I have been holding back but now I am ready.”

The overall #21-ESPN-rated prospect in the 2010 class, Jackson is the first consensus top-25-rated prospect out of the city of Memphis to choose the Tigers since Penny Hardaway.

 After quickly becoming a familiar face on the basketball scene, Memphis coach Josh Pastner made it a point to emphasize an “inside-out” recruiting philosophy. Jackson, who is the first local product to pledge to the Tigers since current Tiger Pierre Henderson-Niles, is evidence to Pastner’s hard work in the Tigers’ backyard.

April 9th, the first day of the April contact period for NCAA Division 1 coaches, marked Pastner’s first official recruiting duties as Memphis’ head coach. A mere five months later, Jackson gives the Tigers their second potential McDonald’s All-American for the 2010 recruiting class. Memphis Roar had a chance to catch up with ESPN Scouts Inc. National Director of Recruiting Paul Biancardi today, who made it clear that this commitment is a big statement for head coach Josh Pastner and the Memphis Tigers.

“I think that Josh has made his mark as a head coach with these two commitments (Jackson and Will Barton),” explained Biancardi. “Some people may be surprised by what he’s been able to do, but not those in the business. We knew it was only a matter of time.”

According to ESPN, Jackson is “one of those special players that comes along once in a lifetime. Jackson is speed personified with the ball; he can explode off one foot and finish in your grill or drop the nice dish to a cutting big man. Jackson has a unique ability of wasting little to no motion. Every move has its place and every action has a specific destination. Dubbed “The Real Thing”, Jackson can knock down the outside shot and is bringing back the mid-range jumper.”

In addition to analyzing his skill-set, Biancardi described some of the local implications for a signing like this.

“I think it gives the fans and city more reason to love the University of Memphis, to get out and go to the games and to really show their support,” Biancardi said. ”It’s a celebration for the city of Memphis for a local player of Joe’s capabilities to commit to the local school.”

Jackson gives Memphis its second point guard prospect for the 2010 class to go alongside Antonio Barton. With Willie Kemp graduating after this season, the Tigers are in dire need a playmaking ball-handler like Jackson to slide into the point guard position.

On Jackson and Antonio Barton’s future relationship on the floor, Biancardi said, “Those two will be able to play well together because they are serious athletes and can score the ball. Two point guards can definitely be on the floor at the same time. They need remember to check their egos at the door and they have to play for the good of the team. You can do wonderful things when you play for the good of the team.”

Not only does Jackson’s commitment have implications for the Tigers on the court, but it signifies a change of guard in the city of Memphis, where the best prospects in the city stay in the city for college. Pastner and his staff have essentially spent the last five months building a wall around the city of Memphis.

“The fan-base, they support the players tremendously,” said Jackson. “ They’ll stick with you through your ups and downs. It’s very exciting to have all the fans behind you.”

With city of Memphis prospects like Adonis Thomas, Andre Hollins, Ced McAfee, Nino Johnson and Jarnell Stokes coming up in the next few classes, it is an extremely significant time for the University of Memphis basketball program and its fans. Based on conversations with high school, AAU and college coaches, most feel that it is possible to win a NCAA National Championship with only players from the city of Memphis.

Jackson said after his announcement that he wants to help take part in the recruitment process.

“I went ahead and did it so I could help get some better players,” responded Jackson when asked why he decided to go ahead with the early commitment.

There is certainly a buzz around the potential of the 2010-2011 squad, but there is a lot that needs to happen between now and then. Will Barton, Antonio Barton and Joe Jackson must all three sign their letters of intent. Prior to Martin Ngaloro’s injury and current Memphis big man Angel Garcia going down with an ACL tear yesterday, it was likely that the 2010 recruiting class was going to be six deep. There is a potential to have a class that consists of seven pieces, which means that there are still four remaining slots to be filled. Biancardi agrees that the potential is exciting, but warns that there is a long road ahead.

“Overall, I think this brings a lot of excitement but it also brings a lot of inexperience,” said Biancardi. “These guys will need to develop their skills through individual workouts. The key, though, is that Coach Pastner is so good at that. He has been doing that for practically his whole life. It’s really important to recruit great players, but it’s equally important to develop their skills, and I think Pastner can do that.”

After watching Jackson play numerous times at the River City Showdown Tournament this summer, staff writer and scout Clark Merriam provided this description of Jackson:

“One of the most talented players in the tournament, Jackson has excellent quickness, can get to the hole and score, and can run his offense efficiently. One thing that Jackson has worked on and displayed at the River City Showdown was his jump-shot. Knocking down multiple pull-up jumpers and hitting outside shots, Jackson has become a defender’s nightmare.”

Watch Memphis Roar’s footage of Joe Jackson from the River City Showdown below:

Here are some of Memphis Roar’s original photos of Joe Jackson:

Will Barton

MR: What are your thoughts on Coach Pastner?

WB: “I think he’s a great person first of all and I think he’ll be a good coach. He’s got some great experience from being under Lute Olsen and John Calipari… I think he’s going to be real good.”

MR: What was a big factor in choosing the University of Memphis?

WB: “Just coming down here and seeing the atmosphere and that relationship with Coach Pastner and Coach Cyp [Cyprien]”

MR: Was playing with your brother a big factor, as well?

WB: “Yes, definitely”

MR: Describe your brother, Antonio, for us.

WB: “Antonio is a pure point guard that can also score. He’s 6′2, strong, fast and quick, and can get to the rack”

MR: Did you know any current Memphis players before coming to the Elite Camp?

WB: “Yea, I knew Wesley Witherspoon.” (Witherspoon helped out at a camp that Barton played in)

MR: Describe your game for us.

WB: “Very versatile and I like to get the ball to my teammates and make everyone better.”

MR: What’s something that you would like to tell Tiger Nation?

WB: “I’m real excited and can’t wait to get here and win a championship!”

Antonio Barton

MR: What was a major factor in your decision?

AB: “Felt comfortable down here, like my second home.  Me and my brother bonded with the coaching staff.”

MR: Describe your brother, Will, for us.

AB: “He’s a combo guard, versitale, can do it all, can play just about every position on the court and he loves to win”

MR: Was playing with your brother a big factor in your decision?

AB: “Yes sir”

MR: How would you describe your game to us?

AB: “I am a floor general and love to get others involved”

MR: What’s one thing you would like to tell Tiger Nation?

AB: “We’re gonna win a national championship!”

Will Barton

Late Friday night MemphisRoar received word from several of its sources that both Will and Antonio Barton have given their verbal commitment to play for the University of Memphis Tigers. The Barton brothers, each highly sought after by many division one colleges, are both 2010 prospects and are in Memphis this weekend for the University of Memphis’ Elite Camp.

Will Barton, a 6′6” 180lbs. shooting guard, is regarded by many experts and recruiting services as one of the best shooting guards in the class of 2010.  Will is considered to be the “total package” when it comes to his position. His athleticism allows him to hit shots from long range, get to the rim, create match-up problems, perform some ridiculous cross-overs, and go hard on both ends of the court.

Antonio Barton, a 6′2″ 170lbs. point guard, often is overlooked on the court because of playing alongside his brother.

Antonio Barton

Despite not receiving the hype and attention that he deserves, Antonio has con tinued to play hard and has picked up numerous division one offers. Antonio has a quick first step and really excels both in his mid range game and when he has the ball in the paint.

Will and Antonio Barton’s commitments are Coach Pastner’s first additions to the 2010 class. The Tigers are still in contention for numerous other top prospects for next year, and the Barton brothers’ commitments will only help with this. Coach Pastner and the rest of the coaching staff have already done a great job keeping things positive and finding the best recruits for the Tiger program.

Stay tuned to MemphisRoar as we are trying to reach Will and Antonio to see what they have to say about their recent decision!