|
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.
It wasn’t long ago when Memphis’ 2023-24 basketball roster looked all but finalized.
The addition of Alabama transfer guard Jahvon Quinerly marked the Tigers’ 12th scholarship newcomer ahead of the season. Assuming returnee guard Jayden Hardaway — who initially joined the program as a walk-on — remains on scholarship, that would make it so that all 13 of the team’s scholarships are filled.
It’s never that simple, though. Not in today’s world of college basketball — and certainly not when it comes to Memphis.
The fact that former All-AAC forward DeAndre Williams was still waiting on his NCAA eligibility battle to play out was already known, as was the increasing uncertainty of if four-star freshman guard Mikey Williams would ever be a Tiger because of his legal trouble.
But things have only gotten more complicated for Memphis over the past two weeks.
After speculation grew that MTSU transfer wing Teafale Lenard Jr. could be academically ineligible for the 2023-24 season, a source close to the Tigers’ program confirmed this to be the case to The Daily Memphian late last week. Though the source added that the program had not officially cut ties with Lenard at that time, the situation certainly appears to be heading in that direction.
So, that’s two players — Lenard and Mikey Williams — who could very likely not be a part of coach Penny Hardaway’s squad this upcoming season. And if that ends up being the case, Memphis would have at least two scholarships open. (Williams’ preliminary hearing was recently pushed back to Sept. 5, casting further doubt on if he’d ever make it to campus.)
Even if the NCAA grants DeAndre Williams an additional year of eligibility, that’s still at least one spot Hardaway could fill if he chooses to do so.
It may be a little late to add players with the start of the 2023-24 campaign just over three months away, but Hardaway is no stranger to working up until the final buzzer. He didn’t receive commitments from Jahmar Young Jr. and Damaria Franklin last year until mid-to-late August, for instance.
While there isn’t an abundance of talent available in the transfer portal now, there’s a national expectation that several graduate transfers will enter the portal in August after finishing their coursework at their old schools.
A player that has been recently discussed among media members and fans alike is New Mexico State transfer guard Deshawndre Washington. Memphis picking up Washington would be a questionable move, to say the least, given his involvement in the Aggies’ hazing and sexual assault scandal last season.
Luckily for the Tigers, they should have other, non-problematic transfers to choose from soon.
As a reminder, here are the current members of Memphis’ 2023-24 roster:
1. G Jahvon Quinerly (committed July 13)
2. C Jordan Brown (June 27)
3. F David Jones (June 5)
4. G Jayhlon Young (May 3)
5. G/F Teafale Lenard Jr. (April 10)
6. G/F Jonathan Pierre (April 9)
7. G Caleb Mills (April 7)
8. F Nick Jourdain (March 30)
9. F Ashton Hardaway (Nov. 16)
10. G Mikey Williams (Nov. 5)
11. F JJ Taylor (Nov. 5)
12. G Carl Cherenfant (Oct. 23)
13. G Jayden Hardaway (returnee)
More from your Insider:
It is not your regular job — climbing inside a costume and playing the part of NBA mascot Grizz, Memphis Tigers mascot Pouncer or becoming Rockey the Rockin’ Redbird. In fact, it can be all-consuming.
Penny Hardaway and his staff have found answers for a handful of Memphis’ areas of concern this offseason. But what’s left to answer may be the difference between good and great for the 2023-24 Tigers.
The AAC announced its men’s basketball schedule pairings on Thursday, July 20.
Darby Rich spent the past two seasons as the strength and conditioning coach at Texas Tech after being in the same position at Memphis from 2019 to 2021.
Former Memphis guard Lester Quinoñes will suit up with the Dominican Republic National Team when the Tigers take on the group in an exhibition game on Aug. 2 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Of the 10 former Memphis players who suited up for NBA summer league, a handful stood out.
..... |
