1) Memphis Tigers

Spending: $144,084

2019 Recruiting Ranking: 1st

Memphis is a program that has the ability to recruit with the big boys and has been able to in the past on a consistent basis. However, down years under Josh Pastner and Tubby Smith hurt the Tigers both on the court and on the bottom line to the point where they had been recruiting like your typical American Athletic program.

Then they hired Penny Hardaway, who did everything Memphis could’ve ever wanted him to on the recruiting trail. Despite spending roughly half of what Oregon did, Hardaway landed the country’s top recruiting class – and it has a heavy Memphis flavor.

Three of the seven commitments are from the city, including James Wiseman, the nation’s top overall prospect. Even more of an advantage for Hardaway – and Memphis’ budget – was the fact that Hardaway coached Wiseman and Damion Baugh in high school.

The hiring of an NBA legend like Hardaway also gave the Tigers the kind of buzz that made them the “hot” school among prospects in the 2019 class. Many considered the Tigers and that opened the door for Hardaway to do his work.

Efforts from players who had already committed to Memphis helped, too, and that is something that continued to build on itself. Wiseman played a major role in five-star forward Precious Achiuwa’s decision to join the Tigers. Boogie Ellis credited Wiseman, DJ Jeffries, and Lester Quinones with getting him to Memphis, too.

All that added up to exactly $0 in Memphis’ recruiting budget.

Of course, all the excitement and energy Hardaway has helped put back into the program will surely help him out down the road. Memphis is expected to see one of the biggest leaps (if not the biggest leap) in revenue in the country, and some of that will surely be reallocated to increasing the recruiting budget.

But, for now, Memphis is the most financially efficient program when it comes to recruiting success.