MEMPHIS — Ridgeway High senior power forward Tarik Black said Monday he will sign with the University of Memphis, giving the Tigers four 2010 signees rated among the nation’s top 50 prospects.
Black, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound post player rated the No. 47 senior prospect nationally by Rivals.com, had also considered Alabama, Marquette, Tennessee and Florida. He made an official visit to Florida over the weekend, and had also visited Alabama, Marquette and Tennessee.
Black joins a 2010 Memphis recruiting class that has already landed Marietta, Ga., guard Jelan Kendrick (whom Rivals.com ranks the No. 8 senior prospect overall), Baltimore shooting guard Will Barton (No. 11) and White Station High guard Joe Jackson (No. 12). Jackson attended the announcement this afternoon.
The Tigers have also landed Sheffield High shooting guard Chris Crawford, whom Rivals.com rates the No. 66 senior prospect nationally, point guard Antonio Barton, a three-star prospect and Will’s brother, and 6-8 forward Hippolyte Tsafack
This summer, Black played alongside Jackson, Crawford and Kendrick on a Memphis Magic AAU team that won the adidas Super 64 tournament in Las Vegas.
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Comments » 34
Fryinpansvols writes:
Choose The Big Orange Big Man!
d_ray writes:
KNS ... who really cares about this story. Where is the story about #8 Lady Vols beating #7 Baylor? Give Pat the respect she and her team deserves.
golfballs03 writes:
This is a foregone conclusion
TopTenn writes:
Already signed with tigers, forget about Memphis. NY is where good news will come.
polymer writes:
Oh. This is a BIG mystery -- a Memphis basketball player ... will he go to Tennessee? Sure. Like all the other Memphis kids go to Tennessee. I hope BP is not wasting his time trying to fight against that system over in Memphis.
GreenbackMike writes:
I now understand why everybody hates you. Your stupider than Forrest Gump.
FearlessFreep writes:
Black to Memphis per Wes Rucker.
ETNTigerFan writes:
What Memphis player are you referring to that went to Memphis and disappeared? Terrible schedule? Never on TV? You can watch them play #1 Kansas on TV tomorrow night if you wish. Glad to have this kid. Coach JP has had 3 or 4 5* players sign now with the Tigers and he's coached one college basketball game! He's amazing! Good choice Tarik!
golfballs03 writes:
Do they know that Calipari doesn't coach there anymore?
Slystone writes:
All heads should turn to Pearl as he has some catching up to do. Another strike out in the Bluff City. Say what you want this Mamphis recruiting class is very impressive.
bluetiger writes:
..."Or stay in Memphis and disappear.." Are you kidding me? We've had more players go pro in the past two years than Tennessee probably has in its history.
Better tell Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans that they have disappeared. No one told them.
Sorry. I know you Vols fans were hoping Memphis would fade into oblivion after Calipari left, but it looks as if next year we'll be right back where we belong.
Our new coach is going to make sure that the Memphis talent stays in Memphis. Sorry Bruce.
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
No surprise here. Not concerned about Memphis. Billy Donovan has great recruits also.
we3vols#281863 writes:
Just a Heads Up..It should have said previous #8 Lady Vols defeat Previous #4 Baylor. Lady Vols are now #6 Lady Vols!
Dobervol writes:
This is "news" like reporting that tomorrow morning, "Sun Comes Up--Again." This was no secret, and there was no one in any degree of know whatsoever, who had their hopes up he'd come here. Yawn.
abnermc writes:
It's not the players that disappear, it's the wins. Can you say VACATE?
scvols writes:
We will never be a final four team until we get more big time players. I am getting concern about BP recruiting.
bfrank78 writes:
Your really stupid. Penny is the only one to make it to the NBA from Memphis???
Ever heard of Cedric Henderson, Chris Gardner, Quintel Woods, Shawne Williams, Thadeus Young, etc.... All these are homegrown Memphis talent, and all went pro after Penny!
The vols will suck in bball as long as slimmy pearlvert is the coach, Memphis on the other hand has hands-down the best recruiting class for 2010. We will have 4 Mcdonald All-Americans on the roster for next year. And all this is done by a first year head coach.
ETNTigerFan writes:
I remember the wins! that's good enough for me. They can't vacate them from my memory.
DaMan, what Memphis kids are you talking about that went to UT and were successful in the NBA? Maybe you meant WNBA. Sorry to disappoint the UT fans that wished Memphis would fade away in the world of college basketball. #1 Recruiting class in the nation!!
ETNTigerFan writes:
Good showing by the SEC this past weekend btw. I hear Rider and Cornell are really good though....
TigerVet writes:
Dont forget Elliot Perry
memphisfan81 writes:
I love to see Vols fans cry and complain about the city of Memphis. To the guy on this board named "DaMan" I return the question to you my friend. How many "Knoxville" natives are in the NBA currently or past ???? I know you will need a while to figure that out so you can answer next year some time when you're ready LOL . Vols fan please just face it and accept it that your BASKETBALL program doesn't deserve to be in the same BREATH as our program here in Memphis. Our Basketball program is what your Football program USED to be ( I think Kiff is doing a good job).
I would never insult your basketball program in comparing it to our football program WHICH IS HORRIBLE, but you get the point.
tfortennessee writes:
ol d rose just want go away will he. ha ha
crappieking writes:
I get a little of what you are saying. But this year? We are ranked #10 right now and you are not even in the top 25. So the "same breath" comment, I do not understand. You have a great 2010 class for sure.
linkster writes:
Donovan just signed a kid from Jackson, Tn. So our border violated again!! Put up the fence!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Did you say that Memphis' coach has only coached 1 college game??? Just asking a question....nothing more so don't read into it.
htownvol07 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
FYI...there have been several articles about Pat and the Lady Vols....one of them happen to be about their win over Baylor and then there was another one about their jumping to #6 in the polls..There were other various articles about them too...Just trying to be of help because I am a fan of football and basketball(men and women's).
GBO!!!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Yeah..I get maybe half of what he is saying...Once he said "Vol fans", he started degrading(which that is to be expected from him and others) what BP has accomplished since he has been at UT as their HC...I can list his accomplishments, but I think since you seem to follow Vol BB as well..you probably know aboutt he 3 SEC East championships and an outright SEC championship and MANY others as well!!!
memphisfan81 writes:
I LOVE your girl basketball program. BIG FAN!! What's weird to me is why your football program has been known to be bigger than the Girls basketball program. Why is that ? Summit is arguably the best coach to walk the planet but yet it seems SEC football is the pride of Knoxville . At least that's what most of the Vols fans here in Memphis say that I've met.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Yes. He's 1-0 right now as a head coach with a win over Jackson State. A few exhibition games but I don't count those.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Isn't it the exUT player that works at McD's here in Knoxville? I think so. Not a knock on McD's. I'm sure there's a possible future there.
MikeInTN writes:
IMO Pearl will go broke trying to make a living in Memphis. Very, very close knit basketball community that seems extremely difficult to infiltrate.
cooper65#432178 writes:
DA Man (haha) you are DaDunce. Vincent Askew, Lorenzen Wright, Andre Turner, Elliot Perry, Keith Lee, William Bedford off the top of my head. How about Knoxville--give me a few names. I don't know if the NBA is relevant. What is, is that Memphis has had much more NCAA success than the Vols. Criticising the football program is easy, but BB wise it is no contest. Knoxville is surrounded by beautiful country and is the home of the Vols, but offers nothing else. Memphis is a high crime city for sure, but has some great suburban areas, entertainment venues, and the best BBQ in the world. Knoxvillans have no reason to feel superior. HS BB in Memphis is returning to the greatness of the 80s; if UM gets a lock on the Memphis HS talent; the Vols will continue to dominate UM in FB, but trail far behind in BB. BP needs to establish rapport with some HS coaches in Memphis or he will never be better than 2nd best in Tennessee. I have loved the Vols since Johnny Majors was a senior, but I despise arrogant (with no foundation) East Tennessee trash like you.
ETNTigerFan writes:
I agree. I have lived in both cities for about the same amount of time. I loved living in Memphis and I enjoy living here in Knoxville. Both offer different options for quality entertainment. Both have been positive experiences for me. However, I have noticed since living in Knoxville the hostility towards Memphis and Western side of the state in general. I just don't get that. Most Memphis people I knew didn't feel the same way about Knoxville or East Tennessee. Let's not forget, we may not all be 'Volunteers' or 'Tigers' but we are all Tennesseeans
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