The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Memphis Tigers became the final addition to the Battle 4 Atlantis 2020 field and will make its second trip to the Bahamas in as many years under new head coach Penny Hardaway.

During the final game of this year's event, presented by Bad Boy Mowers, another highly anticipated field was completed with the announcement of the Tigers, who will also make their second Battle 4 Atlantis tournament appearance.

The 2020 event will feature a former tournament champion and one of the most recognised names in NCAA Division I basketball.

The Tigers (C-USA) joined the list of seven teams that were previously released - the Duke Blue Devils (ACC), Ohio State Buckeyes (Big 10), Texas A and M Aggies (SEC), West Virginia Mountaineers (Big 12), Utah Utes (PAC 12), Creighton Bluejays (Big East) and Wichita State Shockers (AAC).

Duke won the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis and will be one of several returning teams.

The others are Memphis (2012), Texas A and M (2015), Utah (2011) and Wichita State (2016).

West Virginia, Ohio State and Creighton will make their tournament debut.

Memphis came to the Bahamas last summer for the foreign tour when they completed a four-game exhibition series undefeated at 4-0 against local teams at the Baha Mar Convention Center.

In the four wins over Bahamian teams, the Tigers won by 31, 75, 10 and 30 points.

The 10-point win came against the Bahamian national team, coached by Golden State Warriors' assistant Chris DeMarco.

Hardaway claimed the top overall recruiting class in 2019 headlined by five-star recruits James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa, along with four star recruits Boogie Ellis, DJ Jeffries, and Lester Quinones.

Expectations loom high for Hardaway to solidify another high profiled recruiting class to continue his goal of building Memphis into an elite programme. Duke will enter the 2020 Battle 4 Atlantis with the No.2 recruiting class in all of college basketball, giving Bahamian fans one of the earliest opportunities to see the group of NBA prospects compete.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski landed a trio of five star recruits including Jalen Johnson, Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward and also added four stars Mark Williams, Jaemyn Brakefield and Henry Coleman.