One thing that was made clear for Memphis fans in the late stages of the season is that the roster’s depth needed improvement. With Jordan Brown leaving the team in the middle of the season and Malcolm Dandridge not being available to play in the latter part of it, it stressed the need for frontcourt depth on the roster.
Furthermore, the Tigers lacked high-level athleticism and defense on the front line. This is one of the main factors that contributed to their mid-season struggles and eventual downfall. Yesterday, Memphis reached out to its first frontcourt player in the transfer portal. It offers a promising sign toward improving their weaknesses from last season.
Texas State forward Brandon Love fits the roster well and could cover a lot of bases as Penny Hardaway and company look to attack their weaknesses this off-season.
Who is Brandon Love?
Brandon Love is a junior who spent his first three collegiate seasons at Texas State. Love has one year of eligibility remaining. The 6’9 forward played in a largely reserve role in his first two seasons in a Bobcat uniform. In his junior campaign, he had a much bigger role, starting all 34 games and playing 25.2 minutes per contest.
This season, Love averaged 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He shot 54.9% from the field and 53.0% from the free throw line. He did not attempt a three this season and has not done so throughout his entire career.
Love’s Game
Listed at 6’9, 208 pounds, Brandon Love is a long, athletic forward capable of making plays on both ends of the court. He does most of his work on the inside. Love operates effectively as a ball screen roll man that uses his athleticism to finish around the rim. He scores 1.17 points per possession on rolls to the basket and 1.28 points per possession on 63.9% shooting at the rim.
The Texas State forward has the athleticism necessary to be an acrobatic finisher in the paint. He’s able to absorb contact and use his leaping ability to finish plays that many others aren’t able to. While not effective as a ball handler or creator, he possesses the ability to take one to two dribbles and generate speed to get downhill for strong finishes. His “second jump” is better than most other players on the court, allowing him to grab rebounds and turn 50/50 balls into favorable opportunities.
Love’s long wingspan and vertical athleticism allow him to be a dangerous presence on the glass for put backs. He collected 2.4 offensive rebounds per game this season and scored 1.17 points per possession on put back attempts. His rim gravity as a roll man allow ball handlers to have a variety of options in ball screen situations. Pair him with a down hill guard in his minutes, and you have a dangerous offensive pairing.
Two-Way Presence
Impactful on both ends of the court, Love brought great value as a two-way presence for the Bobcats. Love limited opposing players to a 44.7 eFG%. He uses his length and foot speed to shut down actions, protect the paint, and keep up with smaller guards in isolation. He held the opposition to 36.4% shooting in isolation and just 44.1% at the rim, a very good number.
His wingpsan is very bothersome for opponents, something that can be seen in multiple play types. He has active hands on the perimeter and works hard to prevent dribble penetration. This season, he has limited the opposition to just 0.83 points per possession on spot up opportunities. Alongside his length, Love possesses enough strength at 208 pounds to guard effectively in the post. Here, he limits players to just 41.7% shooting in the paint, making offensive players finish over him.
Love, too, is active as on off-ball defender, flying in for blocks or contests on drives. He brings an energetic playstyle to both ends of the court and knows how to time his jumps well, collecting 1.4 blocks per game. Furthermore, Love is great at generating defense to offense and getting out in transition to put his high-flying athleticism on full display. Here, he’s comfortable making plays for himself in open space, where he scores 1.08 points per possession.
Lineup Fits
Love isn’t the best with the ball in his hands, but he shows some glimpses of creation in the post. He has nifty footwork and can contort his body to find openings for finishes where he can quickly rise up toward the rim. He scored a solid 0.866 points per possession on post ups this season, using his length to complete plays in the paint.
Having made only one jumper on the season, Love has room to improve as a shooter. Despite his athleticism making him a threat as a rim running big in transition and a roller in ball screen situations, his lack of a jump shot may limit his playing time at a high-major level. At 6’9, he doesn’t slide in perfectly as a five. This means defenses can clog the paint to stop dribble penetration when he’s in lineups with another big.
If he were to commit to Memphis, Penny Hardaway and company would likely have to be creative in how they use him. He clearly brings a positive impact as a play-finishing, two-way forward. However, his lack of consistent on-ball creation and shooting at the power forward spot may limit his opportunities.
Other Suitors
Regardless, glimpses of being a high-level impact player on the big stage are there for Brandon Love. Other teams see this too, as Memphis is not the only major program seeking to land his services. Oregon State, Arkansas, TCU, Texas A&M, Missouri, Arizona State, and more are in hot pursuit of Love.
Can Memphis pry the Houston, Texas native away from his home state? Only time will tell.
