Elite point guard Eric Bledsoe will visit Memphis Tigers

Elite point guard Eric Bledsoe will visit Memphis Tigers
By Dan Wolken, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Originally published 11:12 a.m., April 29, 2009

With the nucleus Josh Pastner expects to have in his first season as head coach, the University of Memphis is probably an elite point guard away from being one of the top college basketball teams in the country again.

As luck would have it, an elite point guard might be in town this weekend to check out the Tigers’ program.

Memphis is expecting Eric Bledsoe, one of the nation’s top point guard prospects, to arrive Thursday for an official visit, according to a source.

Bledsoe, who led Birmingham (Ala.) Parker to an upset over DeMarcus Cousins’ Mobile LeFlore team in the Alabama state semifinals in February, is ranked No. 23 by Rivals.com.

Of course, the Tigers have plenty of competition to land Bledsoe, who is one of the few difference-makers at any position still available in the senior class. Former Memphis coach John Calipari is trying to lure Bledsoe to Kentucky, though it appears Bledsoe would be a backup plan in case Calipari fails to sign top-ranked point guard John Wall.

Getting Bledsoe on campus would be a major coup for the new Memphis staff, which desperately needs a point guard next season. As things currently stand, Memphis expects Shawn Taggart to pull out of the NBA Draft and return for his senior year, joining junior college star Will Coleman in a formidable frontcourt. Memphis also will return Wesley Witherspoon, Roburt Sallie and Doneal Mack on the wings and add skilled 6-10 forward Angel Garcia, who sat out last season due to academics.

Memphis is also a finalist for Latavious Williams, a 6-7 forward from Starkville, Miss., who is rated among the top 20 players in the senior class by Rivals.com.