Tigers acquire transfer guard Damaria Franklin; Ja Morant’s parents become his neighbors

Welcome back to the Memphis Sports newsletter. It’s Ray Padilla, the Commercial Appeal’s digital producer, with sports news you might have missed over the weekend.

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway acquires Illinois-Chicago transfer guard Damaria Franklin for his team, our Jason Munz reports. 

However, since Franklin already utilized his immediate eligibility transfer, he will need the NCAA to grant him a waiver to play for Memphis this season. If he is not granted a waiver, he won’t be eligible until the 2023-24 season.

“We’re getting everything figured out,” Franklin told The Commercial Appeal last week. “Hopefully I can be eligible right away.”

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Meanwhile, Grizzlies’ Ja Morant decided to not only buy his parents a home, but made them his new neighbors, our Damichael Cole reports.

Morant posted a video on Instagram where he walked outside his home and yelled down the street, where his father, Tee Morant, was standing outside his new home.

"Aye Pops, we neighbors now!" Ja Morant yelled in the video.

"Go back to your house! Go back to your house. I don't need you over here," his father jokingly responded.

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Damaria Franklin joins Memphis Tigers; Ja Morant buys parents' home