Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | John Martin

Memphis center Aaron Bradshaw enters transfer portal

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:26:39 -0500

Aaron Bradshaw, a 7-foot-1 center, averaged 8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in his one season for the Tigers, while battling an injury for much of the second half.

How Penny Hardaway convinced one of the nation's top shooters to pick Memphis

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:31:35 -0500

New Memphis commit Rihards Vavers spoke to The Daily Memphian about his decision and what he plans to bring to the Tigers next season.

Memphis Tigers land 6-9 forward Deng

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:05:33 -0500

Jerry Deng, a 6-9 transfer from N.C. State, committed to the Memphis Tigers on Thursday night, according to a report from League Ready.

How Memphis basketball's latest commitment plans to 'turn the city up'

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:24:32 -0500

Brandin Cummings on Tuesday became the latest player to commit to Memphis from the transfer portal. He spoke to The Daily Memphian on Wednesday about that decision, his game, and what he plans to bring to Penny Hardaway’s team.

Memphis basketball lands first commitment in Rihards Vavers

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:02:17 -0500

Penny Hardaway has landed his first official commitment of the transfer portal season: Washington State sharpshooter Rihards Vavers.

Pitt guard picks Memphis, becomes second portal commit of day for Tigers

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:01:22 -0500

Penny Hardaway was busy working the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday afternoon.

Martin: Can a hometown kid help Hardaway bring back the glory days?

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:47:05 -0500

The four-star prospect committed to Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, giving the Memphis basketball program some much-needed momentum after the worst on-court season since the 1970s.

The transfer portal is open. Who might Penny Hardaway bring in?

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 21:06:20 -0500

Among nearly 2,000 players who have entered the transfer portal, Penny Hardaway will likely need to find 11 to assemble his make-or-break team. So who might they be?

Martin: Memphis makes staff hires official, plus some rumblings around college basketball

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:38:55 -0500

As we near the truly busy season, i.e., the transfer portal window opening, here are just a few things I’m hearing at the local and national level in college basketball.

Martin: Memphis and Penny Hardaway have a plan. Will it work?

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:00:07 -0500

Now that the decision has been made to bring Penny Hardaway back, everyone in Memphis hopes he’ll be successful — and that his ninth year will be the charm. The task before him is immense.

Martin: Thanks to dramatic foul shots, Memphis basketball's season stays alive. Here's what it means.

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 05:45:29 -0500

“It’s March, and Penny Hardaway and the Tigers have a chip and a chair.”

Martin: Loss to ECU should raise questions about Memphis' plans with Penny Hardaway

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Sun, 1 Mar 2026 17:28:40 -0600

One fact to sum up Penny Hardaway and this Memphis basketball season: This is the most losses the Tigers have suffered in 56 years.

Tigers Talk: What the future holds for Penny Hardaway at Memphis

pupadhyaya@dailymemphian.com (Parth Upadhyaya) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 18:58:46 -0600

Parth Upadhyaya and John Martin look ahead to what changes Penny Hardaway needs to make.

Martin: Hardaway loses another — and the heartbreak is setting in

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:03:15 -0600

This wasn’t a fiery coach fighting back against an establishment that he felt was out to get him — this was a coach who was hurting.

Martin: With loss to Utah State, this Memphis team somehow found a new low

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:12:27 -0600

The magnitude of these losses — and the demoralizing way that they’re unfolding — highlight the fact that this team and program are in real trouble.

Martin: Brace yourselves, Memphis fans. After loss to North Texas, the real storm is here.

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:37:41 -0600

The Tigers may have weathered one storm. But the bad news is that another storm cell arrived, and it could hang around.

Martin: How is Penny Hardaway doing at Memphis? We asked AI.

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:15:45 -0600

With so much emotional discussion around the Memphis basketball program and its future, John Martin took to ChatGPT and asked it for its brutally honest and objective view of the Tigers and coach Penny Hardaway.

Martin: Parker has all-time night against UAB, and the Tigers sincerely needed it

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 08:06:40 -0600

The timing of such a performance couldn’t have been more perfect for the Tigers and coach Penny Hardaway.

Martin: What Memphis hoops is trying to do may be impossible

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:00:04 -0600

What the Tigers are doing this season is undeniably disappointing, and there’s basically nothing they can realistically do to redeem themselves at this point. But what would a successful season look like?

Martin: After latest double-digit loss, Memphis basketball doesn't seem to have a plan

johnmartinmemphis@gmail.com (John Martin) — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 21:03:26 -0600

Right now, Memphis isn’t the dominant team in the conference. It’s not even second-best in the conference. It’s a mediocre program that is currently in seventh place.

Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | John Martin

Memphis center Aaron Bradshaw enters transfer portal

Related content:

How Penny Hardaway convinced one of the nation's top shooters to pick Memphis

Memphis Tigers land 6-9 forward Deng

Related content:

How Memphis basketball's latest commitment plans to 'turn the city up'

Related content:

Memphis basketball lands first commitment in Rihards Vavers

Pitt guard picks Memphis, becomes second portal commit of day for Tigers

Martin: Can a hometown kid help Hardaway bring back the glory days?

Related content:

The transfer portal is open. Who might Penny Hardaway bring in?

Martin: Memphis makes staff hires official, plus some rumblings around college basketball

Martin: Memphis and Penny Hardaway have a plan. Will it work?

Martin: Thanks to dramatic foul shots, Memphis basketball's season stays alive. Here's what it means.

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Martin: Loss to ECU should raise questions about Memphis' plans with Penny Hardaway

Tigers Talk: What the future holds for Penny Hardaway at Memphis

Related content:

Martin: Hardaway loses another — and the heartbreak is setting in

Martin: With loss to Utah State, this Memphis team somehow found a new low

Martin: Brace yourselves, Memphis fans. After loss to North Texas, the real storm is here.

Related content:

Martin: How is Penny Hardaway doing at Memphis? We asked AI.

Martin: Parker has all-time night against UAB, and the Tigers sincerely needed it

Martin: What Memphis hoops is trying to do may be impossible

Martin: After latest double-digit loss, Memphis basketball doesn't seem to have a plan