Memphis basketball is losing its second player to the transfer portal in a 24-hour span.
Sophomore guard Baraka Okojie intends to leave the Tigers after one season with the program, sources confirmed to Bluff City Media Monday.
Okojie, 6-foot-1, played a limited role despite making 31 appearances this year, logging 1.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 11.5 minutes per game. He averaged just eight minutes in American Athletic Conference (AAC) play as midseason transfer Dante Harris largely replaced him as the Tigers’ primary backup point guard to Tyrese Hunter.
Hunter and Harris both suffered season-ending injuries earlier this month, however, making way for Okojie to start what turned out to be Memphis’ last two games—its AAC Tournament title victory over UAB and its NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Colorado State. The former George Mason standout excelled defensively but struggled offensively, totaling 5 points, 8 assists, 3 steals and 6 turnovers on 1-of-3 shooting across the two outings.
Okojie has two years of eligibility remaining.
Memphis is already expected to lose Hunter, Dain Dainja, Nick Jourdain, Colby Rogers and Moussa Cisse due to expired eligibility. Freshman guard Jared Harris, meanwhile, is also entering the transfer portal. Okojie becomes the seventh scholarship player coach Penny Hardaway is tasked with replacing this offseason.
PJ Haggerty, PJ Carter, Dante Harris, redshirt Bouna Kebe and walk-on Damarien “Dink” Yates can all return in 2025-26. Eastern Florida guard Felipe Patino and Overtime Elite guard Daniel Vieira-Tuck are currently the only incoming players for next year’s team. This leaves Memphis with seven open scholarships.
Hardaway coaches his eighth season at Memphis next winter.