Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway hoping for good news on recruiting front soon
Penny Hardaway has already made significant inroads with his Memphis basketball roster reconstruction.
The Tigers' coach has already mined the transfer portal for point guard Kendric Davis, guard Elijah McCadden and big man Kao Akobundu-Ehiogu, but he still has plenty of work to do. Memphis has five open scholarships and could have six to fill before long.
Hardaway, taking a break from his annual round at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl charity golf tournament at TPC Southwind, admitted he would feel "good, not great" if he didn't make any more roster additions between now and the start of the season.
“I feel like I’m missing one shooter,” Hardaway said. “I do love the guys I have on the team. That’s no knock on anybody we have coming back. But, I feel like one more shooter wouldn’t hurt.”
Hardaway thinks that number could shrink as soon as this week. He said now that Lester Quinones (who announced last week he is staying in the NBA Draft) and DeAndre Williams (who announced last week he is returning to Memphis for another season) have made their decisions, he is putting his foot on the recruiting gas.
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"Everything got kind of backed up a little bit when it comes to recruiting," Hardaway said. "(But) I think I've started to do that more lately."
The Tigers' top priorities, according to Hardaway, are adding solid perimeter shooters and a "hybrid big" man. North Carolina guard Kerwin Walton (a 40% 3-point shooter in two seasons with the Tar Heels) is among the top candidates in the transfer portal for Memphis. Walton took an official visit with the Tigers last month and is also considering Texas Tech, among others.
Other options that fit what the Tigers are looking for include Kentucky's Keion Brooks, Boise State's Emmanuel Akot and Northwestern's Pete Nance.
Hardaway said Monday good news on the recruiting front may not be far off.
“I hope so, this week, that we hear from at least one guy,” he said. “Yeah, I’m hoping this week.”
Memphis basketball could add Auburn to 2022-23 schedule
Hardaway is still working on finalizing the non-conference portion of the 2022-23 schedule.
Last week, the Tigers' coach said he was pursuing opportunities to reignite series with one-time rivals Louisville and Arkansas. On Monday, he reiterated those intentions before adding a new name to the list of prospective teams Memphis will be facing this season.
“We might face Auburn again in Atlanta in the non-conference,” he said.
Memphis has road dates with Saint Louis and Alabama set for the upcoming season. It also has home games with Texas A&M and Ole Miss. The Tigers are scheduled to participate in the ESPN Orlando Invitational, an annual multi-team event in November.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball: Penny Hardaway hoping for good recruiting news soon
