I’ve spent the last two weeks as a practice player preparing the Lady Tigers basketball team for a grueling season. The team has a tough schedule that includes a December 18th showdown against Tennessee and a December 21st bout against Louisville.
Earlier in the week I wrote about Memphis’ all-star staff, including head coach Alex Simmons. But, here are the players that I believe have the ceiling to lead Memphis to a conference championship:
Meet the Players:
- Alasia Smith, 5 ’10 Senior Forward – Smith enters her fifth year of college basketball as one of the best players in the conference. She followed head coach Alex Simmons to Memphis by way of Gardner-Webb and averaged nearly a double-double in 2023. Smith’s best-player comparison would be something similar to Dennis Rodman. Her elite motor led her to 2.2 steals a game last year. But, don’t let her defensive prowess fool you into thinking she can’t get a bucket. She especially excels in turning good defense into easy offense.
- Tanyuel Welch, 5’10 Sophomore Guard – Welch missed last season with an ACL suffered in a pre-season practice. During the 2022-2023 season, she played a minimal role for the Lady Tigers, averaging only 12 minutes per game. Expect that to change. Welch’s leg seems to have healed just fine as she looks like the best athlete out there no matter who she’s going against. Her twitchiness leads to easy points in transition and tough finishes through contact.
- Elauna Eaton, 6’ Senior Guard – After spending three seasons in the SEC with a limited role, Eaton transfers to the 901. The lefty guard has a flamethrower attached to her hip at any time. She will shoot and make any shot on the floor.
- Tilly Boler, 6’1 Senior Guard – The fifth-year collegiate guard brings three years of NCAA Tournament experience to the Tigers. This includes a 25-point outburst against UCONN in last season’s tournament. Boler is a wiry athlete with good twitch around tight angles.
- Hannah Riddick, 6’1, Senior Forward – Riddick enters her fourth year as a Tiger with big expectations. Her 51.1 field goal percentage led 2023’s squad by a wide margin. Her consistent inside scoring and rebounding effort make her a key piece for 2024.
Whether it’s one of these five or another piece of the multitude of talent, this Lady Tigers squad will have a chance to make a run.
