Memphis Basketball is looking to make another run under head coach Penny Hardaway with an entirely different squad from last season. After going 26-9 and winning the AAC Conference Tournament, things could be on the up and up for the Tigers, but they’ll have 12 new faces in the rotation to deal with this season.
With just one player returning from last year’s squad, Memphis will have an entirely different look in 2023-24. They’ll welcome eight new faces out of the transfer portal and four freshmen a year after Penny Hardaway posted his best winning percentage (.743) as the head coach of the Tigers. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back and make another NCAA Tournament appearance.
They’ve certainly got some solid pieces with NCAA Tournament experience joining the fold in Jahvon Quinerly (Alabama), Caleb Mills (Florida State), and Jonathan Pierre (NOVA Southeastern). Pierre is probably their most intriguing piece given he won a DII National Championship this past season before transferring up to the DI ranks.
The biggest question mark this offseason though, has been the return of DeAndre Williams for a sixth year. While he did return to Memphis, he remains unlisted on the current roster. So, given that insight, Williams will be left off of the depth chart for now.
Even without Williams, Memphis has dangerous potential on a team on paper. They’ve got some interesting versatility with the additions of David Jones (St. John’s) and Jaykwon Walton (Wichita State) on the wing and a potential emerging presence down low in Jordan Brown (Louisiana).
It will be interesting to see if their “Plug and Play” method will work this year. It will probably be Coach Hardaway’s most adverse season yet. Take a look at the projected starting rotation and depth chart for Memphis heading into 2023-24.
Point Guard
Starter – Jahvon Quinerly (25 mpg)
Jahvon Quinerly is the first name out of the transfer portal that should make a splash in the rotation for the Tigers at the point guard spot. He joins the AAC after spending four seasons in the SEC with Alabama (2019-23) and one season in the Big East with Villanova (2018-19). Given his power conference experience, he looks to be the leading starter.
Quinerly started in 40 of the 98 appearances he made for the Crimson Tide from 2019-23, producing 11.7 ppg, 3.7 apg and 2.3 rpg on 42.9 percent shooting from the field and 34.7 percent from behind the arc. He’s got experience leading a squad and has shown he can play any role to win for his squad. He made just six starts in 2022-23 while maintaining solid all-around production and winning the SEC Sixth Man of the Year award. Look for him to do the same as a leader for a new-look Memphis offense in a starting role.
Bench – Jayhlon Young (15 mpg)
Jayhlon Young is another transfer portal name joining the Memphis Tigers, though he’ll be familiar to UCF Golden Knights fans. He’ll look to boost his role in the Tigers backcourt at the backup point guard role this season. He produced 4.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg and 2.0 apg across 33 appearances, 12 starts, in 2022-23. He’s a capable shooter and distributor who’s climbed through the JUCO ranks and looks to end his career in Memphis Blue.
Shooting Guard
Starter – Caleb Mills (25 mpg)
Caleb Mills is another transfer portal acquisition with power conference experience that’s actually returning to the AAC in 2023-24. He joins Memphis after spending the past two seasons with the Florida State Seminoles in the ACC. He began his career with the Houston Cougars in the AAC back in 2019-20.
Mills looks to finish up his career back in the AAC at the shooting guard role for the Tigers. He was a solid presence in the Seminoles backcourt as a distributor and scorer off the bounce. He produced 13.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.0 rpg and 1.3 spg. He may not be a perimeter threat, per se, but he makes up for it with his ability to defend. He’ll be a solid two-way presence for Memphis at the starting shooting guard role and share the playmaking duties with Quinerly.
Bench – Jaykwon Walton (10 mpg), Jayden Hardaway (5 mpg)
Jaykwon Walton is another transfer portal acquisition from another intraconference foe in the Wichita State Shockers. He should see big minutes off the bench at a few different spots given his length at 6-foot-7 and ability to make things happen on the wing. He’ll play one backup role at the shooting guard spot. Jayden Hardaway is the lone returner for the Tigers who should see time at the third backup shooting guard role. He averaged 5.4 ppg this past season.
Small Forward/Wing
Starter – David Jones (25 mpg)
David Jones joins the Memphis Tigers and looks to bolster their small forward/wing position with his athleticism in 2023-24. He’s an athletic forward at 6-foot-6 with a knack for attacking the rim and rebounding in bunches. He averaged 13.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 apg, and 1.3 spg across 31 contests (17 starts) for St. John’s in the Big East in 2022-23.
He finished 12th in the conference in offensive rebounds (72) this past season. He’ll give Memphis a change of pace with his ability to attack off the bounce, rebound the ball on both ends, and defend on the opposite end. He’s not a bad perimeter shooter, either. He shot 29.4 percent on 42-of-143 shooting this past season.
Bench – Jaykwon Walton (15 mpg)
Walton should see most of his time at the backup small forward/wing role. Given his length and penchant for knocking down shots on the perimeter, he should definitely be a change of pace off the bench. He knocked down 1.5 3-pointers per contest at a 40 percent clip for the Shockers while averaging 13.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.9 apg this past season. Look for him to blossom off the bench as an instant offense presence on the wing.
Power Forward
Starter – Jonathan Pierre (24 mpg)
Jonathan Pierre makes the leap from DII’s NOVA Southeastern to the AAC’s Memphis Tigers in the DI ranks. He’s an explosive forward at 6-foot-9 who was a pivotal piece in their 36-0 record this past season, making them the sixth undefeated in DII history, while winning a DII National Championship.
He’ll bring them a ton of versatility at the power forward spot after putting up 14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 3.4 apg while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from 3-point range in 2022-23. He had himself a breakout season in his second year in the NOVA Southeastern rotation. He’ll look to really show what he can do with his move to the AAC. He won’t play exclusively in the painted area, but he’ll give them an interesting stretch-forward option given his ability on the perimeter.
Bench – Ashton Hardaway (11 mpg), Javonte Taylor (5 mpg)
Ashton Hardaway and Javonte Taylor are the first two freshmen who should see playing time in the rotation. Despite all the new additions, the frontcourt is where the Tigers will be the most bare in 2023-24. Look for Hardaway and Taylor”s minutes to fluctuate as the season progresses and they prove themselves on the hardwood and in practice.
Center/Forward
Starter – Jordan Brown (25 mpg)
Jordan Brown is the final name out of the transfer portal who should round out the starting rotation for the Memphis Tigers in 2023-24 at the center/forward spot. He’s a sizeable presence at 6-foot-11 that’s developed into quite the talent around the rim area. He’s made quite the journey through the college basketball landscape.
He began his career back in 2018-19 with the Nevada Wolf Pack in the MWC then spent time in the Pac-12 with the Arizona Wildcats in 2020-21. He spent the past two seasons in the Sun Belt with the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns where he was a two-time All-Conference performer and last season’s Sun Belt Tournament MVP after producing 19.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, and 1.2 bpg on 57.1 percent shooting from the field in 2022-23. He’ll look to finish up his career in the AAC after building quite the resume heading into his debut.
Bench – Nick Jourdain (15 mpg)
Nick Jourdain is another transfer portal addition who should shore up their frontcourt at the center/forward spot. He joins the Tigers from Temple in the Atlantic 10 where he was a presence in the painted area on both ends.
He averaged 6.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, and 1.1 bpg across 32 appearances (19 starts) this past season. He’s proven he can hold his own as a defensive presence off the bench and should do similar in the Tigers frontcourt.