Memphis Announces 2007 Signing Class

Memphis Basketball Announces 2007 Signing Class
Morris twins, Robinson, Rose sign to play with the Tigers.

Memphis Head Coach John Calipari Comments:"We are announcing our complete signing class today that includes Jeff Robinson, Derrick Rose and Marcus and Markieff Morris. Now, we're done with signing players, and I can focus on this year's team.

We've had some good recruiting classes here, but you have to wait and see how it plays out (when they get to campus). All four kids are terrific young people and great players.

At this point, it's up in the air (whether the Morris twins will come to Memphis or go to prep school next year). If they want to go to prep school, I will tell them the pros and cons and support the decision they make. But that is down the road. We're happy they want to come here and we want them here. Their mom is the best, and when the family came on its visit, they all said they were comfortable here and felt at home in our city and on our campus. That made me feel good.

I believe Derrick is the best high school player in the country because he makes everyone he plays with better. Derrick has the size, athleticism and skill, but you add to that his competitiveness and attitude and `whoa.' I don't like to rate and compare players against each other, but if he's not the best, he's right there with the best."

Marcus Morris 6-7/215/ForwardPhiladelphia, Pa.Prep Charter

May attend prep school next year, along with his brother Markeiff ... A national top-100 recruit ... Rated the No. 47 player in the nation by Rivals.com (for the Class of 2008) ... Also rated the No. 18 power forward in the country by Rivals.com (for Class of 2008) ... Scout.com rated him the nation's No. 13 small forward ... Ranked the No. 71 player in the country by SI.com ... Averaged 15.0 points in 2005-06 for Prep Charter ... Named to the 2006 Associated Press Class AA second team ... Helped lead Prep Charter to a 28-5 record and the 2006 PIAA Class AA state crown ... The title is the first-ever state championship by a Philadelphia charter school in any sport ... Recorded 10 points, eight assists and four blocked shots in the state title win over Beaver Falls.

Markieff Morris 6-8/225/ForwardPhiladelphia, Pa.Prep Charter

May attend prep school next year, along with his brother Marcus ... A national top-100 recruit ... Ranked the No. 82 player in the country by SI.com ... Rated the No. 93 player in the nation by Rivals.com (for the Class of 2008) ... Also rated the No. 29 power forward in the country by Rivals.com (for Class of 2008) ... Helped lead Prep Charter to a 28-5 record and the 2006 PIAA Class AA state crown ... The title is the first-ever state championship by a Philadelphia charter school in any sport ... Recorded 10 points and nine rebounds in the state title win over Beaver Falls.

Jeff Robinson 6-5/205/ForwardElizabeth, N.J.St. Patrick HS

A national top-100 recruit ... Ranked the No. 65 player in the country by SI.com ... Rated the No. 94 player in the nation by Rivals.com ... Also rated the No. 24 small forward in the country by Rivals.com ... Scout.com ranked him the No. 15 small forward in the country ... Named to the 2006 Star-Ledger All-Union second team and the paper's All-Junior first team ... St. Patrick's was named the 2005-06 Star-Ledger Team of the Year ... St. Patrick's posted a 29-4 record in 2005-06 and finished the year ranked No. 1 in the Star-Ledger rankings ... Helped lead squad to third T of C title with a 61-54 win over Linden ... Rated the No. 7 player in the New York/New Jersey/Delaware area by metrohoops.com.

Derrick Rose 6-4/194/GuardChicago, Ill.Chicago Simeon HS

A consensus national top-10 recruit ... Rivals.com No. 3 player in the country ... Rivals.com No. 1 point guard ... As a junior in 2005-06, averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists ... Helped lead Simeon to the 2006 Illinois Class AA state title ... Rivals.com also rated him as the player with the most speed in the class of 2007 ... Scout.com rated him the country's No. 6 player and the nation's No. 2 point guard ... Ranked the nation's No. 5 player by SI.com.