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Welcome to this week’s Tigers Basketball Insider. Below you’ll find the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s Parth Upadhyaya, John Martin and Tim Buckley.
As the offseason continues to roll on for Memphis, one of the most frequently asked questions among fans has been: “Who’s even on this team?”
It’s a totally understandable query, too.
Coach Penny Hardaway’s Tigers currently have just one scholarship player from last season’s squad — sixth-year guard Jayden Hardaway — set to return. They’ve brought in four freshmen and six transfers — and they aren’t even done adding new faces.
This sort of player carousel is enough to make anyone’s head spin.
Let’s take a look at where Memphis’ 2023-24 roster stands now:
Who’s in?
Returnees:
Jayden Hardaway, SG
Hardaway is the lone guaranteed holdover from the 2022-23 Tigers.
The 6-foot-5 guard initially joined the program as a walk-on in 2018 but earned a scholarship soon after. After redshirting in 2018-19 as a freshman, Hardaway played a reserve role for three seasons before becoming a fixture in the Tigers’ rotation this past season. He will again likely see minutes off the bench.
Hardaway averaged 5.4 points and 1 rebound through 29 games in 2022-23. He started in 19 games.
Transfers:
Caleb Mills, G
Mills will likely be a top-three scorer on next season’s Tigers team.
The 6-5 guard transferred to Memphis in early April after spending the past two seasons at Florida State and the two prior at Houston. He was the AAC’s Preseason Player of the Year in 2020-21, but he decided to leave the Cougars after playing just four games in that sophomore campaign.
Mills averaged 13 points, 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds per game in 2022-23. He started 31 of the team’s 32 games.
David Jones, SF
Jones was a key pickup for Penny Hardaway’s club deep into the offseason.
The 6-6 forward transferred to Memphis in earlier this month after playing for St. John’s this past season and for DePaul the two seasons prior. As a proven offensive weapon in the Big East, Jones will almost certainly be a starter and likely a top-three scorer for the Tigers next season.
Jones averaged 13.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 2022-23.
Teafale Lenard Jr., G/F
Lenard, while a bit raw offensively, has NBA upside.
The 6-7 guard/forward transferred to Memphis in early April after spending the past two seasons at Middle Tennessee State. Known for his defensive prowess and incredible leaping ability — which have him projected to be a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony — Lenard should be a starter for the Tigers next season.
Lenard averaged 8.3 points, 4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 2022-23. His 61 blocked shots were good for the fourth-highest single-season mark in MTSU history.
Jonathan Pierre, G/F
Pierre was one of the most coveted transfers in the portal this offseason.
The 6-9 wing from Division II Nova Southeastern in Florida transferred to Memphis in early April. Despite playing the past two seasons at the DII level and having zero Division I offers out of high school in 2021, Pierre could eventually be an impact player for the Tigers. His height and length, coupled with guard-like skills, are the primary reason for his appeal.
Pierre averaged 14.5 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 40.5% from 3-point range in 2022-23.
Jayhlon Young, PG
Young was a sneaky good addition for the Tigers.
The 6-2 point guard transferred to Memphis in early May after playing one season at UCF and two at Louisiana’s Baton Rouge Community College. While Young may not have the upside of other players on the Tigers’ roster, he has proved he can produce on both ends of the floor when called upon and should be a key role player.
Young averaged 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2 assists in 2022-23. His averages increased to 7.4 points, 3.5 assists and 2.4 rebounds in the 12 games in which he started.
Nick Jourdain, PF
Jourdain was the first transfer portal pickup for Memphis this offseason — and an important one, too.
The 6-8 forward transferred to Memphis in late March after spending three seasons at Temple. Though he wasn’t an every-game starter, Jourdain was a staple of the Owls’ rotation last season. He provides the Tigers with a starting-caliber power forward in the event they don’t land a better fit.
Jourdain averaged 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 2022-23.
Incoming freshmen:
JJ Taylor, SF
The 6-7 wing is ranked 84th in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports Composite.
Ashton Hardaway, PF
Another son of the head coach, the 6-7 stretch-4 is considered one of the better shooters in the 2023 class.
Carl Cherenfant, G/F
The 6-5 swingman is known for his defensive versatility.
Who’s a maybe?
Mikey Williams, G
Williams, at one point among the most hyped 2023 recruits, was supposed to be the crown jewel of Memphis’ incoming freshmen class.
But the 6-2 four-star guard was arrested April 13 and charged with five counts of assault with a firearm and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle during a March 27 incident outside his San Diego-area home.
Though Penny Hardaway vocalized his desire to not prematurely cut ties with Williams when he spoke to reporters in earlier this month, he may be left with no choice if Williams’ legal situation doesn’t get resolved in a timely fashion.
DeAndre Williams, PF
Williams is still in the process of pursuing reconsideration from the NCAA on his eligibility status.
The 6-9 All-AAC forward played the past three seasons with Memphis after playing the 2019-20 campaign at Evansville and sitting out in 2018-19. He averaged 17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 2022-23.
While Williams’ documentation for reconsideration hasn’t yet been submitted to the NCAA, his lawyer, Don Jackson, said last week that “considerable information” had already been passed over to Memphis’ athletics compliance office.
Malcolm Dandridge, PF/C
Dandridge is a Memphis native and has a relationship with Hardaway that goes back to his time playing for the now-Tigers coach at East High.
The 6-9 big man entered the transfer portal in May after spending the past four seasons with Memphis. He averaged 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 2022-23.
Dandridge — and Hardaway — have left the door open on a potential return to the Tigers. After visiting Saint Louis earlier this month, Dandridge has not yet announced his future plans.
More from your Insider:
Alex Simmons will be the third head coach at the University of Memphis for the former Houston High basketball star.
Former Memphis Tigers All-American guard Kendric Davis is still a free agent, despite a since-deleted social media announcement from his agency.
Lawson spent two seasons with the Tigers, making NCAA Tournament appearances both times after transferring to Memphis from Oregon.
A look at portal comings and goings for coach Penny Hardaway’s team heading into the 2023-24 season.
Penny Hardaway’s attorney, Don Jackson, believes the NCAA’s three-game suspension for Hardaway is an unfair punishment.
“Be on notice, Penny: The NCAA evidently is watching Memphis, its track record being what it is all the way back to the early 1980s.”
The NCAA will hold a Zoom press conference Wednesday, June 21, to discuss an NCAA Division I Committee on Infraction panel’s decision on the Tigers’ case.
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