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Hello, and welcome back to the Tigers Basketball Insider. Below, you’ll find the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s Danielle Lerner and Geoff Calkins.
Trying to keep track of the transfer portal and the coaching carousel can make for a dizzying offseason — just ask Penny Hardaway.
Memphis saw assistant Tony Madlock leave for a head coaching job, and the team has already lost four players to the transfer portal. But Hardaway quickly landed a transfer of his own, Hampton guard Davion Warren, and likely isn’t done yet.
The Tigers have two available scholarships. One of those spots will likely go to a big man. Even if centers Moussa Cisse, Malcolm Dandridge and incoming freshman Sam Ayomide Onu are all around next season (Cisse is testing the NBA draft waters and Dandridge is a transfer risk if Cisse returns to Memphis), the Tigers could use some additional experience and scoring down low.
Hardaway could go a variety of directions with the other open spot, if he chooses to fill it. Depending on whether or not Landers Nolley II stays (he’ll likely test the NBA draft waters) and how much the Tigers expect of freshmen John Camden and Josh Minott, another wing player with strong shooting skills could be in the mix.
Another option is a combo guard to replace some of the lost production in the backcourt and further balance Alex Lomax’s role as a distributor with Lester Quinones’ defensive acumen and Warren’s rebounding and finishing abilities.
Monday night’s NCAA title game between Baylor and Gonzaga was a testament to the importance of transfers. Gonzaga has two Division I transfers, Andrew Nembhard (Florida) and Aaron Cook (Southern Illinois). Baylor has four transfers on the roster, including starter MaCio Teague (UNC Asheville) and sixth man Adam Flagler (Presbyterian) — both from Big South schools, like Warren.
Memphis struck gold in the portal last offseason with Nolley (Virginia Tech) and DeAndre Williams (Evansville), who were the team’s top two scorers this season. Time will tell if Hardaway can replicate that success.
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More from your Insider:
Moussa Cisse, the reigning AAC Freshman of the Year, announced his decision in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Hampton senior guard Davion Warren, the Big South Conference’s reigning top scorer, announced his commitment to the Tigers.
Boogie Ellis, D.J. Jeffries and Damion Baugh all have entered the transfer portal. That’s not great — but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
The team has met Katrina Merriweather, and one player already has deemed her “the true definition of Black Girl Magic.”
The departures actually are not surprising, and Hardaway gets to dig through the portal for the Tigers’ needs.
Katrina Merriweather looks like a perfect fit as the new coach. Here’s hoping she returns the program to relevance.
Landers Nolley II and Lester Quinones are among Tigers to take home The Daily Memphian’s end-of-season awards.
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