NC State forward Jerry Deng commits to Memphis
Memphis picked up its third commitment from the transfer portal with the addition of NC State big man Jerry Deng.
Deng announced his commitment on social media after he entered the portal two days ago. The forward has spent the last three seasons at three different schools, and he will have two years of eligibility remaining after redshirting last season at NC State.
The Rochester, NY native started his career at Hampton, where he averaged 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 33 games, including 11 starts. The forward averaged 21.8 minutes per game and shot 39.1 percent from deep on 3.3 attempts per game.
After his freshman season, he entered the transfer portal and landed at Florida State, where he saw action in 31 games, making a pair of starts. Deng played 15.4 minutes per game for the Seminoles, and he averaged seven points and 1.9 rebounds and shot 43.4 percent from the field.
Deng entered the transfer portal a second time and signed with Will Wade and the Wolfpack ahead of his junior season, but he played in only eight games before taking a redshirt year.
“He’s redshirting this year,” Wade said during an interview last season. “He’s got some off-the-court things going on. He’s got some medical stuff going on. We met with him and his camp and we all felt like that would be the best course of action right now.”
In those eight games, the forward averaged 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and made 1.4 three-pointers per contest. Deng scored 14 points, on four made three-pointers, and grabbed three rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes in his final game against Texas Southern.
Evan Miya ranked Deng as a three-star transfer portal prospect and gave him a “B-“ offensive grade and a “C+” defensive grade.
Deng is a versatile guard who can work off the dribble, but he can also knock down an open three. The forward has found a lot of success in transition, and he could be a threat running the floor in Hardaway’s offense.
At 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, Deng has the size and the athleticism to be a threat on the boards and as a second-chance scorer, but he has played more on the perimeter through his first three seasons. His athleticism and shooting ability makes him a threat at all three levels, and he’s shown the potential, including a a 37-point performance as a freshman at Hampton.
Deng will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
The forward joins Rihards Vavers and Brandin Cummings as the three players to commit to Hardaway out of the portal, and he becomes the eighth player to commit to the Tigers for next season. Memphis now has seven spots available on the 15-man roster.