Memphis basketball’s offseason officially began moments after it was left out of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) field.
Forward Jonathan Pierre will enter the transfer portal when it opens Monday morning, sources confirm to Bluff City Media. The 6-foot-9 junior appeared in just 19 games for Memphis while making one start.
After riding the bench for most of this past season, he seemingly earned a reserve role towards the end of the campaign. Pierre, who won a Division II National Championship at Nova Southeastern in 2023, played at least 10 minutes in five straight contests from Feb. 8 to Feb. 21. But he never saw action again after the Tigers’ visit to East Carolina on Feb. 29.
”[I] had to make [the best] decision for my career and overall growth [as] a player. Thankful for Memphis,” Pierre wrote in a statement sent to Bluff City Media. “Truly a blessing to play for Penny in Memphis. This chapter, I [learned] a lot about myself and what I need to do going forward.”
Memphis, which lost to Wichita State in its American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament opener Thursday, is already expected to lose Jahvon Quinerly, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Caleb Mills, Jaykwon Walton, Jordan Brown, Jayden Hardaway and Malcolm Dandridge due to expired eligibility. Pierre now becomes the eighth scholarship player head coach Penny Hardaway is tasked with replacing this spring.
Forward Nick Jourdain has announced his return to Memphis next season. The Tigers can also bring back David Jones, Jayhlon Young, Joe Cooper, Ashton Hardaway, Carl Cherenfant and Noah Stansbury. Four-star guard Jared Harris is the program’s only incoming player as of now.
This offseason is likely the most critical one yet for Hardaway, who’ll coach his seventh season at the school next winter. The Tigers missed their chance at a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after starting the 2023-24 campaign 15-2 and ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25.
Failing to reach the Big Dance again next season might prove fatal for the former NBA All-Star’s tenure.