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Penny Hardaway brings in another star-studded transfer class

Names like Jahvon Quinerly and David Jones have transferred into Memphis and have now graduated after this past season, but no real team success has followed these talented players. Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway has secured another great transfer class this offseason, but the hype hasn’t been there for it this offseason because of the recent disappointments.

In the incoming class of seven transfers, there’s four I think will likely start for Memphis this offseason, alongside the lone returner, Nick Jourdain (7 ppg, 4 rpg). The backcourt will now have a new trio of guards, led by AAC Freshman of the Year and Tulsa transfer PJ Haggerty (21 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg). Another intraconference transfer, Colby Rogers of Wichita State (16 ppg, 3 rpg), adds to the backcourt alongside Haggerty and Texas transfer Tyrese Hunter (11 ppg, 4 apg). Both Rogers and Hunter will give this team some much-needed experience in the backcourt. The fourth transfer I think will start and have an instant impact for Memphis is Illinois transfer Dain Dainja (6 ppg, 4 rpg at Illinois). The numbers don’t pop off the page for Dainja, but by watching Illinois games over the last two years, you can see the positive impact he has provided as a different option from Coleman Hawkins. Dainja is a physical presence down low and should be able to control the paint in an AAC that is much smaller than the Big Ten.

Even with doubt coming from the national side, Memphis will very likely once again be near the top of the AAC preseason polls and will be my pick to win the conference. I have to put some of the blame for recent failures on Coach Hardaway, especially because of their collapse this past season in conference play. Dain Dainja will surprise people in his play, but Tyrese Hunter will be the x-factor for this team. We all know these Penny Hardaway teams haven’t been locked in on defense for extended stretches throughout his tenure at Memphis, and Hunter’s defensive abilities must be showcased and replicated across this Tigers team. If Hardaway has finally put together a team that can play some defense, and I believe Tyrese Hunter is the centerpiece of that, they should have no problem taking care of the AAC, because we know the offense is already there, having transferred in two 16+ ppg scorers last season from within the AAC.

Other Things to Note:

• West Virginia transfer Noah Farrakhan (8 ppg, 3 rpg) commits to Hampton
• Green Bay transfer David Douglas Jr. (9 ppg, 2 rpg) commits to Fresno State
• Memphis guard Carl Cherenfant (1 ppg, 1 rpg) commits to New Mexico State