Memphis basketball's Penny Hardaway talks Tyler Harris transfer ahead of FedExForum return
Former Memphis basketball sharpshooter Tyler Harris’ departure in April took plenty of people by surprise.
Penny Hardaway is not one of those people. The fifth-year Tigers coach is set to face Harris, now the leading scorer at South Florida (7-6), when Memphis (10-3) opens AAC play on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN+).
“Nothing catches me off-guard,” Hardaway said Wednesday. “Nothing does. Ty is a prideful guy. He’s a really good player. He wanted to be here. (But) my whole entire mindset was on, for me, to kinda get the program, you know, in a position where I was very comfortable mentally. That was no knock on anybody.
“I’m still a fan. Just, to me, that’s just how it happened.”
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Harris, a high school star at Cordova before signing with the Tigers, had already left once (for one season at Iowa State) and come back as a walk-on for the 2021-22 season. He played well, averaging 8.8 points and leading the team with a 39.5% 3-point field goal percentage.
In the weeks after Memphis’ season ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Hardaway made it clear he was ready to take the program in a different direction – and his vision did not include Harris. The school’s fifth-leading 3-point shooter (192 makes) and all-time leader in free throw percentage (86.1%) let it be known the decision was not his to make.
"In life there are several choices and decisions you have to make, this one was not (mine)," he posted on Twitter.
“I’m not going to get into anything deep," said Hardaway. "Tyler is in a good spot. He’s able to handle the ball and play a lot of minutes. He’s doing well. Their leading scorer. Their best player. He’s playing well.”
Harris wasn’t the only player Hardaway parted ways with after last season. Including Harris, six players transferred, and three others opted to begin their professional careers.
“It’s always difficult for me, man, because my heart is always into the guys that go here – especially the guys that are from Memphis,” he said. “Just very difficult. I watch all those guys throughout the year on their teams. I want them all to do well. But it’s tough when you watch them and you understood what we had here as a group.”
Harris is scoring a team-best 15.5 points per game for USF and is shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. He’s also second on the team with 3.07 assists a game and has a team-high 14 steals.
Memphis forward Chandler Lawson said he wasn’t surprised by the amount of turnover after last season because Hardaway “said it wasn’t going to be the same team as last year (because there was) a lot of confusion and chaos going on.”
Lawson added he keeps in touch with Harris regularly.
“Tyler’s just excited to come back to the city,” said Lawson. “He feels like it’s a lot of pressure on him to come back in and play against his former team and coaches. I’m just happy to see him doing well. I hope he has a good game but not a good enough game to beat us.”
Penny Hardaway provides injury update
The Tigers dressed just eight scholarship players for last week's game against Alabama State. That will not be the case Thursday, Hardaway said.
Malcolm Dandridge, who is dealing with a Grade 2 ankle sprain and has missed the past two games, is the only player already ruled out. Alex Lomax (calf, groin) and Keonte Kennedy (concussion protocol) are set to return, while Jayden Hardaway (hip) will be a game-time decision, according to Hardaway.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Penny Hardaway on Tyler Harris transfer before Memphis basketball-USF
