Memphis has landed its first verbal commitment since officially joining the Big East Conference.

Geron Johnson, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Dayton (Ohio) Garden City College averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, pledged to the Tigers Thursday.

“I think he really was excited about playing for Coach [Josh] Pastner,” Garden City coach Kris Baumann told SNY.tv.  “I think he was excited about them going to the Big East his senior year.” (more…)

Memphis and Houston playing for the Big East basketball championship?

It sounds strange, but it could happen.

With established powers Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia on their way out and former Conference-USA schools Memphis, Houston, SMU and UCF on their way in, the Big East will look dramatically different in a year or so.

All those schools are set to join in 2013, meaning by the time of the 2014 Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden, it’s at least possible Memphis and Houston – or for that matter, SMU and UCF — could play for the title. (more…)

**PROGRAMMING NOTE: Memphis basketball coach Josh Pastner will be my guest on ‘The Big East Report’ on Thursday. Check back here and on SNY.tv tomorrow for the interview.**

Everyone in the college basketball world knows Josh Pastner can recruit.

The Memphis coach signed ESPN’s No. 4 recruiting class nationally in 2010.

His current roster includes McDonald’s All-American Joe Jackson and Jordan Brand All-Americans Will Barton and Wesley Witherspoon.

Now that Memphis is headed to the Big East beginning in 2013, Pastner and his staff will have recruiting entree to the rich talent corridor from New York to Washington, D.C. (more…)

Rick Pitino appears to be getting his way.

Memphis and the Big East are negotiating to make the Tigers an all-sports member of the league beginning in 2013, Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com reported.

“Memphis would be an awesome addition,” Pitino, the Louisville basketball coach, told SNY.tv last fall, referring to their basketball program. (more…)

Memphis freshman forward Adonis Thomas could be done for the season because of an injury to his left ankle, The Commercial-Appeal reported.

Thomas turned his ankle during practice Friday and an MRI on Monday revealed that he had a loose “flap” of cartilage.

“A decision (was made) today from talking to the doctors and his family that he is going to have very minor surgery,” Memphis coach Josh Pastner told the newspaper. “It’s minor. It’s not a fracture or a break. It’s just something with the cartilage, very minor. They just need to clean it up real quick. But the recovery time is that we expect him to miss possibly the remainder of the season.” (more…)

Ever since Torian Graham re-committed and then de-committed from N.C. State last month, there’s been a death of information on him.

But now Rex Morgan, head coach at Arlington (Fla.) Country Day, says Memphis may be working the hardest on the 6-foot-4 2012 shooting guard.

“Torian committed to N.C. State and now it’s not a good fit,” Morgan told SNY.tv Wednesday by phone.

“He’s opened it back up and Memphis is working pretty hard.” (more…)

Memphis sophomore guard Joe Jackson won’t play in Saturday’s game against Charlotte and could transfer, according to a report by Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal quoted Memphis coach Josh Pastner as saying Jackson would sit out the game because of a “personal matter,” but apparently Jackson’s days at Memphis could be numbered.

“My opinion is he might not wear a uniform in Memphis again,” Eric Robinson, Jackson’s former summer coach, told CBS. “It’s nobody’s fault. Josh has a system [but] I don’t know where Joe fits in it, and Joe said he’s confused, unhappy and not having fun. And I always say if you’re not happy you need to do something about it.

“They’re trying to work things out, and I hope they can work things out,” Robinson added. “But if not, Joe and the Tigers might have to part ways.”

The 6-foot-1 Jackson started Memphis’ first 11 games of the season, but came off the bench in Thursday’s win over Robert Morris and went scoreless in 21 minutes.

The former McDonald’s All-American is averaging 11.9 points and 3.1 assists on the season.

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After initially saying he would not sign until the spring period, Shaq Goodwin signed with Memphis on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-8 Goodwin joins AAU teammate Damien Wilson in the Tigers’ 2012 signing class.

Memphis had previously missed out on power forward Alex Poythress, who chose Kentucky. The Tigers are also involved with 6-8 Jarnell Stokes of Memphis, who may end up signing in the late period.

Goodwin is rated as the No. 19 prospect in the nation by ESPNU, and the best prospect in the state of Georgia. (more…)

Shaq Goodwin, the No. 10 power forward in the Class of 2012, has picked his school.

“memphisbound,” he tweeted.

The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Goodwin out of Decatur (Ga.) Southwest Dekalb High also considered Florida, Arizona, UCLA and Georgia. He joins Damien Wilson, a 6-6 small forward from Oak Hill Academy, in Memphis’ 2012 class.

Goodwin’s stock rose dramatically over the summer when he helped the Memphis YOMCA AAU team reach the finals of the prestigious Peach Jam event with a 29-point, 12-rebound performance in the semifinals against the Georgia Stars.

Goodwin teamed with fellow 6-8 big man Jarnell Stokes to form a powerful one-two punch down low. (more…)