Hitmen Hoops

HS/CBB 🏀 Scouting | Memphis Basketball Analyst | Dabbling in National Recruiting News | IG: @hitmenhoops | #HitmenKnows

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Commit —> White Shooter

Discord got the heads up this morning 😉

JOIN: https://t.co/dru5oir3CE

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

Source: Washington State transfer Rihards Vavers has committed to Memphis.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis wing Rihards Vavers (@vavvers) is showing why he’s one of the best shooters in the country.

Averages through the first two games:

16 PPG | 58% 3PT (7-12) | 5 REB

Memphis has done a good job of scheming Vavers ways to get good open looks, even with defenses starting to adjust.

One of the most important pickups for the team this offseason because of the driving lanes/paint touches it provides for Reid and Weeks.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis PG Jayden Reid (@jaydenreid0) was an absolute dawg in their big win over VCU today.

32 PTS (11-21 FG, 3-9 3PT)
7 AST (2 TO)
3 STL

Reid is coming off a great game where he dropped 25 against Iowa State and looked even more impressive today. Controlled everything offensively and got to his spots with ease. Pushed the pace really well and was pesky defensively.

Looks like Penny has another elite small guard on his hands.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis PG Jayden Reid (@jaydenreid0) was an absolute dawg in their big win over VCU today.

32 PTS (11-21 FG, 3-9 3PT)
7 AST (2 TO)
3 STL

Reid is coming off a great game where he dropped 25 against Iowa State and looked even more impressive today. Controlled everything offensively and got to his spots with ease. Pushed the pace really well and was pesky defensively.

Looks like Penny has another elite small guard on his hands.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

FINAL: Memphis beats VCU 89-88.

Jayden Reid with a 32 piece. Rihards Vavers adds 5 threes. Memphis is now 2-0 with wins over Iowa State and VCU.

An incredible start to the season.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Even more shocking than their 2-0 start is that Memphis is playing like this without their second best player in Nemanja Popovic

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

FINAL: Memphis beats VCU 89-88.

Jayden Reid with a 32 piece. Rihards Vavers adds 5 threes. Memphis is now 2-0 with wins over Iowa State and VCU.

An incredible start to the season.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis PG Jayden Reid (@jaydenreid0) lived up to preseason expectations + more in their win over Iowa State.

26 PTS | 6-11 FG | 2-2 3PT | 12-14 FT | 2 STL

Memphis’ fast-paced system really pairs well with Reid’s offensive ability. The freedom and spacing that it gives to guards allows him to play more into his scoring abilities, and when Popovic returns, we’ll see him balance playmaking and scoring abilities more.

Like I said before, Reid is an early candidate to watch for POTY in the American.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis PG Jayden Reid (@jaydenreid0) looked like an early candidate for AAC POTY in their blowout exhibition win over Mississippi State.

26 PTS | 11-15 FG | 2-4 3PT | 4 AST | 3 STL | in 34 minutes

Reid orchestrated the offense extremely well today while showcasing his own shot creating ability. A big upgrade over Dug McDaniel.

Coming from Northwestern, I was really excited to see how Reid would look in a much higher paced system like Memphis. Reid and Memphis fit really well, especially being surrounded by capable shotmakers.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

The dad is pissed because he didn’t get his cut. Maybe it’s because the kid lives with his mom and/or you don’t call the shots in the recruitment 🤣🤣

Also, “back alley” deals involving shoe circuits/AAU directors/etc. happen all the time in recruiting (dig into Kingston Flemings + Chris Cenac for recent examples)

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

@smoothdave1996 Maybe it’s incompetence from Memphis’ compliance department. They haven’t had any success with waivers recently, while other programs have 🤷‍♂️

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis’ front court is already a weakness for this team and losing their best big in Nemanja Popovic for the first six games of the season is a huge loss.

Through two exhibitions, Popovic averaged:

14 PPG | 5.5 REB | 2.5 AST | 2 STL | 68.4% FG

He’ll miss the following games:

- vs. Iowa State (neutral)
- vs. VCU
- at Vanderbilt
- vs. Louisville
- vs. Evansville
- vs. Penn State

On the bright side, their request for two years of eligibility was granted.

[Memphis Tigers @TigersAthletics]

🗣️ A statement from Memphis Athletics regarding Men’s Basketball student-athlete Nemanja Popovic

[Memphis Tigers @TigersAthletics]

🗣️ A statement from Memphis Athletics regarding Men’s Basketball student-athlete Nemanja Popovic

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

@memphiscountry Yessirrr🔥

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis PG Jayden Reid (@jaydenreid0) looked like an early candidate for AAC POTY in their blowout exhibition win over Mississippi State.

26 PTS | 11-15 FG | 2-4 3PT | 4 AST | 3 STL | in 34 minutes

Reid orchestrated the offense extremely well today while showcasing his own shot creating ability. A big upgrade over Dug McDaniel.

Coming from Northwestern, I was really excited to see how Reid would look in a much higher paced system like Memphis. Reid and Memphis fit really well, especially being surrounded by capable shotmakers.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

FINAL: Memphis dominates Mississippi State, 75-58, in their second exhibition.

Tigers offense looked night and day from last season. Shot 50%+ from the FG (29-57) and 45% from 3PT (9-20). Only had 9 turnovers today.

Jayden Reid was dominant with 26 PTS and 4 AST.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

FINAL: Memphis dominates Mississippi State, 75-58, in their second exhibition.

Tigers offense looked night and day from last season. Shot 50%+ from the FG (29-57) and 45% from 3PT (9-20). Only had 9 turnovers today.

Jayden Reid was dominant with 26 PTS and 4 AST.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

HALF: Memphis is up 39-35 on Mississippi State at the half.

Tigers shooting 53% FG and 46% from 3PT, as their offense looks much improved from last season.

Jayden Reid playing excellent so far, leading all scorers with 14 PTS (6-8 FG, 2-3 3PT).

Some things to clean up, but pretty good half from Memphis.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

HALF: Memphis is up 39-35 on Mississippi State at the half.

Tigers shooting 53% FG and 46% from 3PT, as their offense looks much improved from last season.

Jayden Reid playing excellent so far, leading all scorers with 14 PTS (6-8 FG, 2-3 3PT).

Some things to clean up, but pretty good half from Memphis.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis up 22-14 on Mississippi State at the under 12-minute timeout.

Tigers playing with some pace and getting open looks from three off of some good ball movement.

Jayden Reid leads all scorers with 7 PTS (3-4 FG).

Here’s a look at some of the highlights so far ⬇️

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Memphis up 22-14 on Mississippi State at the under 12-minute timeout.

Tigers playing with some pace and getting open looks from three off of some good ball movement.

Jayden Reid leads all scorers with 7 PTS (3-4 FG).

Here’s a look at some of the highlights so far ⬇️

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

@Broski_W52 Yup. I’ll be posting film at some point too

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

@johnnydmemphis Oh boy

[929ESPN @929espn]

It’s J&J live this Morning at 9AM from the @leadersCU Studios! @JasonSmith929 x @JohnMartin929 + at 9:30 @DrewHill_DM on the @memgrizz win! 🏀 10am @TheJonahDylan on Tigers-ECU football 🏈 10:45 Kenneth Carpenter Sr (on GA Hardaway Sr. Charity Golf Tourney at Pine Hill this Sat) + at 11:25 @HitmenHoops on @Memphis_MBB on 92.9 FM ESPN https://t.co/d4np4V1pLq

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

@memphiscountry

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

Last thing from Memphis’ secret scrimmage: A look into Penny’s rotations ⬇️

Starters: Reid, Almodovar, Vavers, Weeks, Popovic

Minute Distribution:
- Jayden Reid: 32 minutes
- Josh Holloway: 26 minutes
- Nemanja Popovic: 23 minutes
- Rihards Vavers: 22 minutes
- Tylik Weeks: 22 minutes
- Luke Almodovar: 19 minutes
- Jerry Deng: 15 minutes
- Maxim Logue: 15 minutes
- William Whorton: 13 minutes
- Corneilous Williams: 5 minutes
- Cello Jackson: 3 minutes

Note: Two key guards in Julius Thedford and Brandin Cummings DNP. Freshman F Fred Smith Jr. also DNP.

[Hitmen Hoops @HitmenHoops]

More from Memphis’ secret scrimmage: Tigers defense forced Jacksonville State into 20 turnovers.

Source in attendance on defense/pace:

“Memphis pressed them every time after FTs and makes, which created a lot of chaos. Their halfcourt defense was really physical and got JSU out of a lot of actions that they wanted to run. Memphis also killed JSU with their pace in transition.”

Seems like Memphis is going back to their high-pressure defense to pair with their usual high-paced offensive emphasis this season (33rd in pace last season, 25th in 25-26 season), something we didn’t see effectively last season.