'Great' fit: Texas Guard says yes to Tigers

As the son of an international flight attendant, Nolan Dennis hasseen more of the world than most 17-year-olds. But when he came toMemphis for a basketball camp last month, it apparently felt likehome.

Dennis, a highly ranked shooting guard from the Dallas area,ended his recruitment Thursday with a verbal commitment to theUniversity of Memphis. He is the first member of coach John Calipari's 2009 recruiting class, which could ultimately includefour or five of the top high school seniors in the country.

"I think it's because of coach Calipari," said his mother, Carol Dennis, who flies international routes for Northwest Airlines. "He'sa great man, great coach and great human being, period. He broughtthe best out, as far as my son felt, when he went to his camp. Hejust fell in love with (Calipari) and the style, the fit of the gameand the way he coaches."

Dennis, ranked No. 17 nationally by Scout.com, was beingrecruited by a host of schools, including UCLA, Texas and Texas A&M,but had been mentioned most prominently with North Carolina. Themutual interest in Memphis ramped up after Briarcrest shooting guardLeslie McDonald committed to North Carolina last month.

After Dennis attended Calipari's elite camp in mid-June, he wassold on the Tigers and decided to commit before most of the majorsummer events, beginning with this weekend's LeBron James SkillsAcademy.

"He's a great player, and I think it's a great fit for Memphis,"said Tony Johnson, his high school coach at North Richland Hills."The style of play, the motion offense and getting up and down thefloor - that kind of sold him on the school. Calipari did a greatjob of recruiting him, and (assistant coach Josh Pastner) finishedthe job. I think the kid has a chance to make money playingbasketball, and Calipari is the guy to help him get there."

Johnson said Dennis relies on his skill set and athleticism butwill need to get stronger to excel in Division 1 .

"You can put a lot of stuff on that frame he's got," Johnsonsaid. "I think it's just a matter of time, him getting a littlestronger. He's a little light right now, but he's very tough."

Though Dennis is exactly the type of tall guard (6-5) who hasexcelled at Memphis recently, he should help the Tigers in some keyareas in which Calipari is hoping to upgrade the program. Not onlyis Dennis a better outside shooter than the players Memphis hastypically recruited - especially important since the 3-point line ismoving back a foot this season - but he comes without any off-courtissues, academic problems or character questions.

"Great kid," Johnson said. "There's not but a few kids that I'dsay are great kids that have come out of my program; after Anthony Randolph, who just got drafted, he may be the next best kid of all."

Carol Dennis said her son has gained perspective through histravels.

"I'm a single parent with two boys, and they've been everywherein the world," she said. "You go to a third-world country, that'spoverty. You begin to appreciate what you have, and the boys havelearned that America is a great country, you can see it and feel itin your heart for people when you see they're struggling.

"Nolan is a very compassionate kid. There was one incident hewent to a tournament, and one of the kids, he didn't have much. Hewas telling a story about his mom and dad and his situation, andNolan ended up giving him some of his clothes. He was like, 'Here,take this.' That's just his personality."

- Dan Wolken, 529-2365

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