Memphis adds athlete

Memphis coach Josh Pastner did some quick work the past couple days and signed a high potential 2009 prospect D.J. Stephens out of Harker Heights (Texas) High School to scholarship papers for this season.

The original plan was for Stephens, a 6-foot-4 small forward, to attend prep school and refine his skills. A big time athlete, he had the attention of a number of schools in the Big 12.

"Put it this way," said Stephens travel team coach Max Ivony of the Texas Ambassadors. "D.J. has a standing 43-inch vertical. He's still a little raw and needs to develop his skills, but his upside is good to say the least. All the Big 12 schools were telling me that after a year of prep school, he would be their caliber of player."

This summer, however, Stephens changed coarse and decided to head to college. Offers were there from smaller Texas schools. Stephens just couldn't find what he wanted until Memphis came calling.

"Coach Pastner had seen D.J. play and knew about his athleticism," said Ivony. "He gave me a call late Sunday, and now D.J. is headed to Memphis."

Stephens joins four-star big man Will Coleman in Memphis' 2009 recruiting class.