Five-star center Jalen Duren commits to Memphis

(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jalen Duren will not be taking his talents to the University of Kentucky. Instead, the five-star center will be playing for Penny Hardaway at Memphis.

Duren announced his commitment to Memphis in a ceremony at the Team Final headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.

Breaking: Jalen Duren, the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2022, has reclassified into the class of 2021 and committed to Memphis, according to @PaulBiancardi.

(📽️ via @jaydoefilms) pic.twitter.com/5jQDHBOX8K

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 6, 2021

“Penny is a players’ coach,” Duren told On3’s Joe Tipton. “He’s done it before and he’s been through all levels of basketball. Their pitch is the NBA knowledge they have, with adding Larry Brown and Cody Toppert. Just the development that they can provide.”

Memphis is also in the running for five-star wing Emoni Bates, who recently cut his list down to four options – Memphis, Michigan State, Oregon and the G League make up the finalists – and reclassified to the class of 2021.

Coincidentally, UK head coach John Calipari praised the current roster for the players’ ability to come together, master their skills and build chemistry in practice in the team’s first eight weeks on campus.

“Just sitting here reflecting on the past eight weeks we spent with our team, mastering skills, building trust and coming together,” Calipari said. “I can’t wait to get back in practice with them. I really like my team!”

And with that, Kentucky’s roster for the upcoming 2021-22 season is set.