Memphis has eight players currently committed to next season’s roster, leaving seven roster spots available. Penny Hardaway and his staff have been busy this week hosting several prospects and contacting more players in the transfer portal.
While the Tigers have already addressed a handful of needs already, some remain before the start of the season. It appears that Hardaway and his staff are already prioritizing these needs, and it’ll be interesting to see if they can land some commitments over the next few days.
Point Guard
Memphis is still looking to add a point guard out of the transfer portal. The only guard the Tigers have added is 6-foot-3 Brandin Cummings, but he isn’t much of a facilitator, averaging only 2.1 assists per game.
Memphis ranked No.192 in assist rate across college basketball, and only one player averaged more than three assists per game last year.
Hardaway needs to add a playmaking guard who can facilitate the offense outside of just scoring. The Tigers brought in Northwestern point guard Jayden Reid for a visit earlier this week, and it appears Texas A&M point guard Josh Holloway is planning to set up a visit soon.
Rebounding
Rebounding was one of the biggest issues for Memphis last season, and rebounding should be a priority for the staff this offseason.
The Tigers ranked No. 350 in defensive rebounding percentage and No. 9 in the conference in rebounding margin during conference games. Memphis is set to replace nearly all of its frontcourt, and it appears Hardaway and his staff will target players who excel in rebounding.
While the Tigers have brought in two forwards already, neither is a major threat on the boards, but Hardaway and his staff hosted Corneilous Williams on Wednesday. Williams averaged more than nine rebounds over the last two seasons, and he would immediately give the Tigers an advantage on the glass.
Defensive Stoppers
Usually, people prioritize what players can do on the offensive end when talking about transfer portal pieces. Scoring is usually the focal point, but Memphis must prioritize some defensive-first players, or at least players that value the defensive end of the court.
The Tigers have usually found success defensively during Hardaway’s career, but last season, they looked lost at times, especially in conference play. Opposing teams averaged 87.1 points over Memphis’ final nine games, leading to a 1-8 record in that span.
It never felt like Hardaway had a guy that he could really rely on defensively, and that should be a priority this offseason.