Memphis transfer Landers Nolley II eligible to play immediately at Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach Wes Miller's most notable addition from the transfer portal this offseason will be eligible for the 2022-23 season.
Landers Nolley II, who announced his commitment to Cincinnati in April, has been cleared to play immediately for the Bearcats, the school confirmed Tuesday.
Previously: Memphis transfer guard Landers Nolley II commits to Cincinnati Bearcats
The 6-foot-7 Memphis transfer has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Nolley, who was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Tigers' run to the NIT championship in 2021, has averaged 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 89 career games at Memphis and Virginia Tech (72 starts).
Nolley went 3-0 against the Bearcats while at Memphis.
Cincinnati also confirmed Tuesday that Abdul Ado will join Miller's coaching staff this season as a graduate assistant. The 6-foot-11 forward played last season for the Bearcats after playing the previous four years at Mississippi State.
Miller, who led Cincinnati to an 18-15 record (7-11 American Athletic Conference) in his debut campaign at the school last season, added three players from the transfer portal this offseason – Nolley, Indiana transfer guard Rob Phinisee and Old Dominion transfer forward Kalu Ezikpe.
The Bearcats also will have four-star recruit Daniel Skillings and three-star newcomers Josh Reed and Sage Tolentino this season.
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"I feel really good about our incoming players," Miller told The Enquirer in May. "Whether it's our three transfers from the transfer portal this spring or the three incoming freshmen, I feel like we're getting longer, we're getting more versatile, we're getting more dynamic offensively, and we're getting guys that really fit the things that we value and the mentality we're trying to build every day.
"I think it will help the returning guys. Last year, sometimes offensively, I felt like we were putting so much pressure on David (DeJulius) and Jeremiah (Davenport) to create for our team. The way that other teams – especially down the stretch – were able to prepare to take them away, it made it very difficult on them and our team. I think we're going to have a dynamic offensive team now that should free them up to have better opportunities and a better offensive efficiency.
"So yeah, I think the additions will help us in a lot of ways."
Nolley played his freshman season at Virginia Tech, averaging 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists and being named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team.
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Nolley then transferred to Memphis where he led the Tigers in points (13.1), minutes (27.5), 3-point shooting (39%, 65-for-168) and free-throw shooting (80.3%, 49-for-61) during the 2020-21 season.
Nolley, who was named preseason first-team All-AAC prior to the 2021-22 season, will wear jersey No. 2 for the Bearcats.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Landers Nolley II eligible to play immediately at Cincinnati
