Penny Hardaway reveals what Memphis basketball is still looking for in transfer portal
Penny Hardaway is attacking the transfer portal in search of two things above all else: a point guard and a center.
The Memphis basketball coach, who spoke to reporters Wednesday ahead of the school's annual Blue & Gray Cleanup Day (part of TDOT's "Nobody Trashes Tennessee" campaign), said those two positions are at the top of his wish list ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Hardaway and the Tigers are set to host point guard Jaden Bradley on an official visit beginning Wednesday, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation. Bradley (6-3) earned SEC all-freshman honors at Alabama this season. The former 5-star McDonald's All-American averaged 6.4 points, 3.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 19.3 minutes a game with the Crimson Tide in 2022-23.
“The (point guard) area, the center area,” said Hardaway when asked what he is currently prioritizing. “I don’t know if we want to play small-ball or if we want to go get a legit center. (But) those two areas, for sure, are something on the priority list.”
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The Tigers are expected to return guards Jayden Hardaway and Johnathan Lawson, as well as forward Chandler Lawson. It remains unclear whether Malcolm Dandridge is returning for a fifth season at Memphis.
"I don't know what Malcolm's stance is right now," said Hardaway. "I think he's just trying to get healthy. Malcolm has never been healthy. That's truly unfortunate, because he's such a talent. He's an NBA talent."
The team has also signed several transfers: combo guard Caleb Mills (Florida State), wings Teafale Lenard Jr. (MTSU), Jonathan Pierre (Division II Nova Southeastern) and forward Nick Jourdain (Temple).
Memphis has also signed four high school seniors: wings Ashton Hardaway and JJ Taylor, as well as guards Carl Cherenfant and Mikey Williams. Williams was arrested last week on five felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, which stems from a March 27 incident in which police say the 18-year-old Williams shot at a car with five people inside.
Hardaway said Wednesday that Williams "as of right now" is "still with us." Williams is set to make his initial court appearance at 10 a.m. CT Thursday.
Hardaway also said he has three open scholarships.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball recruiting: Penny Hardaway on transfer portal needs
