Curie-Memphis East Game is Off
Courtney Asher Smith contributed heavily to this story.
Memphis East High School pulled out of the Marshall County Hoopfest this week, days before the event commenced today.
Why?
Fans claiming to be University of Kentucky fans threatened the safety of James Wiseman over social media. Wiseman committed to University of Memphis, over finalists UK, Florida State, Vanderbilt, and Kansas.
November twentieth James Wiseman announced his verbal commitment to University of Memphis and former Memphis East Head Coach Penny Hardaway on ESPN’s Sportscenter.
Congrats on your commitment bro let’s get 💯@BigTicket_JW @malcoooo25
— Djjeffries™ (@lildjj0) November 20, 2018
Wiseman signed and completed his commitment today.
James Wiseman, a high school senior, has been dealing with blowback online since he made the announcement.
Scheduled to be played in Benton, Kentucky the Curie game Saturday night amid social media threats concerned the Memphis East program enough that they considered not attending.
“No. I don’t know anything about that,” said Memphis East Head Coach Jevonte Holmes to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
He did and does.
Wednesday evening, following a Memphis East victory, Coach Holmes told PrepHoopsTN reporter Courtney Asher Smith directly of the death threats and discussed the unlikelihood of Memphis East competing in the Marshall County Hoopfest as a result.
As of Thursday morning that unlikelihood is a certainty. Memphis East High School is indeed out and Raleigh-Egypt is in.
Memphis East High School Athletic Director Marcus Wimberly has been unavailable for comment. East High Principal Marilyn Hillard returned a call seeking comment. Though she confirmed Memphis East had withdrawn she has yet to release a statement.
Raleigh-Egypt High School Head Coach Maurice “Mo” Miller confirmed on the Jason and John Show (92.9) Wednesday afternoon that ‘a slot has opened.’
That slot was Memphis East High. It is no longer.
Raleigh-Egypt High School (TN) will play Curie High (IL) Saturday night at 7:00 PM. The GrindSession changed the graphic to indicate the alteration Wednesday evening (pictured right).
Marshall County Hoopfest is expected to release a press release shortly, but they were contacted by Memphis East Head Coach Holmes about their withdrawal.
Curie features DaJuan Gordon (Kansas State signee).
Damari Nixon (Curie) is also a college prospect.
Raleigh-Egypt were not originally scheduled to play in the event, but they will replace Memphis East. REHS played Memphis East Wednesday night.
For the best statewide coverage of high school basketball follow Courtney Asher Smith and @PrepHoopsTN.