MEMPHIS - One way or another, shooting guard Chris Crawford will become a household name in Memphis today.
At a press conference scheduled for 5 p.m. CST at the Sheffield High gymnasium, Crawford is set to announce whether he'll be the first player from the Memphis area to bolt to Knoxville in the Bruce Pearl Era or whether he intends to stay home and play for Josh Pastner at the University of Memphis.
"It's a tossup between both," Crawford said last Thursday before taking a visit to Mississippi State, the third school in the mix but clearly the longest shot.
Apparently, a decision has already been made. After Crawford returned from Starkville on Sunday, he shut down access to all three coaches involved, according to a source. Since then, Crawford's camp has been air-tight, leaking very little information about his intentions.
When Crawford burst on the recruiting scene in July - his performance at the Adidas Super 64 event catapulted him to a No. 66 national ranking by Rivals.com - Tennessee focused much of its efforts on landing Crawford in an attempt to break through with the talent base in Memphis.
Meanwhile, the Tigers' coaching staff honed in on locking down White Station point guard Joe Jackson, who verbally committed last month, joining top-10 national player Will Barton and point guard Antonio Barton in Memphis' 2010 recruiting class.
Tennessee was thought to be the leader in Crawford's recruitment the last few weeks, especially after his official visit to Knoxville on the weekend of Sept. 12. But the Tigers recently turned up the heat on the 6-foot-4 guard, and a meeting late last week with Pastner may have turned the tide just in time for Memphis.
The main issue for Crawford, according to numerous sources familiar with his recruitment, was being convinced that he would have a prominent place in the Memphis program, especially with some talented guards already on board for 2010. Pastner hammered home the message that Crawford, an accurate shooter with terrific range, would bring something different to the table than Memphis' other recruits and that he could be a key part of a championship team.
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Comments » 25
1vavolfan writes:
This guy sure thinks alot of himself, a press conference and a "camp" for the #66 prospect in the nation? Just what we need, another over hyped spoiled diva. Players like Lofton and Jujuan made this program, not even in the top 150 but dedicated and hungry to win.
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Needed someone to hit the "3's" go east young man! Go Vols!!!!
volvoice writes:
Excellent post; I agree. Plus we need to remember Rivals.com of Brentwood, Tennessee is the Vols "homer", constantly elevating any recruit above status simply to inflate the Vols class rankings- sometimes raising his value after commting to UT. Give me a Lofton or Bradshaw any day...
EarthBoundMisfit writes:
he's coming to Memphis, tell Bruce he is wasting money recruiting in West Tennessee.
eldr5#344719 writes:
Big deal if he does go to Memphis. You guys would be the laughing stock of college basketball if you couldn't get the guys in your own city to sign. That's like UT fans saying that Tommy West is wasting his money recruiting for football in East Tennessee. Oh I forgot....Memphis football has never and will never win anything.....except maybe biggest joke program in the NCAA! At least we have more than one team that competes for championships. The only other competition Memphis has a chance in is most student athletes charged with a felony.
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
I would be very surprised if he doesn't commit to Memphis. For some ungodly reason guys in that area just don't want to leave. All he has to do is look at Willie Kemp's career so far. But it won't matter. I remember when I was in school at UT I had lots of friends from Memphis and although they were UT students they still rooted for Memphis against UT in an almost cult like fashion. I never understood it. I'm from Birmingham but I hate Bama and Auburn. Joe Jackson knew all along that he was going to Memphis yet wasted others schools time an money pretending to be undecided. I wish Coach Pearl would extend an open invitation for any talented player in Memphis to come up for an unoffical visit but not waste another minute going to that city. And by the way Elvis is not still alive.
TigerAndVolFan writes:
I actually think he is going to end up at UT. He will get more playing time immediately if he goes to UT. As far as U of M basketball and the city of Memphis, it is like a cult. All Memphians are raised as Tiger fans, and it takes a lot to get them to root against what they have been told all of their life (myself included)
Chris4Vols22 writes:
"[h]e'll be the first player from the Memphis area to bolt to Knoxville in the Bruce Pearl Era..."
J.P. is from Memphis. Geez the inaccuracies on this website are so frustrating!
doubledown writes:
He'll stay in Mempho, where he can ride the Hood with his boom box.
kyvol98 writes:
But he came via Arizona
TigerAndVolFan writes:
Hey...after last week, No "Hood" comments....lol
Bigger_Al writes:
My friends at UT from Memphis were always quick to bellow, "Tuck Figer High!"
VolunteerLifer writes:
I won't understand his decision if he decides to go to Memphis. We need shooting guards big time. It's painfully obvious that we have a huge need for outside shooting by a guard that can also play defense. Also, we play in the SEC, where he will get much more exposure than the high school conference Memphis plays in. Our non-conference schedule is just as demanding if not more so than Memphis'. So, if he chooses Memphis, its not for basketball reasons, its just so he can stay home.
tigertal writes:
VolunteerLifer you are right. Memphis players would never get the exposure needed in order to be a top draft pick in the NBA. Playing in the worthless CUSA would hinder any HIGH profile player from being drafted because no one would ever seem them play on ESPN. Your right UT has a competitive advantage because they play in such a power conference and usually play deep into the NCAA tournament. This is why they have so many more players drafted than Memphis and get out of the first weekend of the big dance.
tenn2maine writes:
Don't understand staying in Memphis. Its home, UT has as many guards as we do for next yr, granted they are not as good, so playing time as a freshman I see no difference, but most of all he is a 4 yr player and the gap between the 2 programs will be massive in less than 4 yrs, at Memphis he has a chance to win a NC at UT sweet 16 maybe. Sorry Vols
marinevol writes:
Did you guys really lose to MTSU in football this year?
EarthBoundMisfit writes:
we've never claimed to be a football school. Nice way to try and deflect your coach's deficiencies in recruiting. He is losing badly in recruiting battles to a COACH WHO HAS NEVER COACHED A GAME OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL YET! ROFL!
I know several Vol fans, and they act a lot more classy than you people. You could learn a few things from them.
TkelynN writes:
Yeah, very nice display of classiness yourself... hahahahaha
CUSA_NEWS writes:
No wonder Pearle loses out on so many recruits, you lads are too worried about au football. BTW, shout outs to UCLA and Florida! jejeje
CUSA_NEWS writes:
Word thru the gripe vines is that Crawford will be a TIGER!
Honestly I thought he'd choose UT given that Memphis is loaded in the backcourt however seems Pastner convinced Chris that his specialty from long range will earn him a role on the team... no longer will a Syracuse be able to zone the Tigers a full game and not pay.
Wow, Pastner I didnt think you'd be able to land Chris too. Tarik Black, come on down!
FalconandVolFan writes:
Crawford did not do much versus the Fulton Falcons in a first round loss in the State Tournament. Didnt seem to play defense well.
EarthBoundMisfit writes:
Pastner has coached AAU basketball before, and normally excels in coaching big men. This may still be the case, but he has three assistants who can certainly help teach defense, one assistant..Jack Murphy was a up-and-comer in the Denver Nuggets coaching ranks, is particualy good at teaching defense, as is coach Cyp...formerly of UK.
Machiavelli writes:
Oh he should go to Graingo County, where they wear the hood
AFTiger writes:
Crawford to MEMPHIS!!
YEAH!!
CUSA_NEWS writes:
What should be pointed out is that as of Monday, he was all but signed with UT.... then Pastner had a home visit with him and the rest is history.
Wow, even with a loaded backcourt Pastner was able to still land him... I mean he was a UT lock no less than 4 days ago and then Boom Shock-a-locka!
I wouldve lost money because I had him to UT. Oh well, Pearl Jam has been outplayed and manauvered once again!
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