Penny Hardaway is currently on her sixth contract through the transfer portal.
Former SMU big man Tyreke Smith will join the Tigers next season, as first reported by CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein late Thursday night. The 6-foot-8 senior completed a visit to Memphis earlier this week, officials said.
Smith joins Tulsa guard P.J. Hagerty, Illinois center Dane Dainja, Wichita State guard Colby Rogers, Texas guard Tyrese Hunter and George Mason guard Baraka Okojie in Hardaway's transfer. Join the portal class. He enters next season with one year of eligibility remaining.
The 24-year-old averaged 8.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 58.4 percent shooting for Rob Lanier's Mustangs last season. In the 2023-24 season, he played in 33 games and started 13 games, helping SMU advance to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), but lost to Indiana State University in the first round.
Smith also had solid appearances in two games against Memphis throughout the season. In a Jan. 7 matchup inside FedExForum, he led SMU with 12 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, but the Mustangs lost 62-59 due to a last-minute bomb by Jahvon Cunally. Ta. Lanier's club defeated Memphis 106-79 inside Moody Coliseum on February 18, and Smith had 10 points, four steals, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Smith's college career also included stops at both Texas Tech (2020-21) and Oklahoma State (2021-23), respectively. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native started nine games for the Cowboys in 2022-23, averaging 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Memphis is expected to lose Jahvon Kunary, N'Quan Tomlin, Caleb Mills, Jordan Brown, Jaeden Hardaway and Malcolm Dandridge due to eligibility lapses. Penny Hardaway will also replace at least five players this offseason, as they will lose Jonathan Pierre, Jaylon Young, Karl Cherenfant, Ashton Hardaway, and Jaquon Walton to the transfer portal, leading to Hagerty , Dinger, Rodgers, Hunter, Okojie, and Smith should be available for next year. Smith will likely serve as Dainja's backup center.
Forward Nick Jordain, a rising senior, publicly announced his return to Memphis in February. The Tigers could also bring back star forward David Jones, who declared for the 2024 NBA Draft last month while maintaining his college eligibility. Jones has until May 29 to withdraw his name from the draft and return to school.
Walk-on guards Joe Cooper and Noah Stansberry could also return next season. Four-star guard Jared Harris is the program's only high school recruit at this time.