Memphis tabbed as early favorite for Kansas State transfer Arthur Kaluma

Penny Hardaway was left blindsided by David Jones’ sudden departure last week, but he may have the ideal replacement lined up.

Sources confirm to Bluff City Media that Memphis currently leads the way for Kansas State transfer Arthur Kaluma, who withdrew from the 2024 NBA Draft merely hours before Jones announced he was staying in. Kaluma enters next season with one year of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-7 forward—KSU’s leading rebounder and third-leading scorer—averaged 14.4 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game while shooting 42.7% from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range during his only season with the Wildcats.

Kaluma helped Jerome Tang’s club win 14 of its first 18 games to start last season. The Wildcats also went 4-1 in their first five Big 12 games, but things quickly fell apart in the final two months.

Kansas State garnered a disappointing 5-11 mark in its last 16 outings—including a loss to Iowa in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT)—and finished No. 9 in the Big 12. Kaluma, however, still scored 13.5 points per contest during this stretch.

Memphis experienced a similar downfall during its 2023-24 campaign. The Tigers started last season 15-2 and were ranked as high as No. 10 in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 in mid-January. But they proceeded to lose eight of their final 15 games, and finish the season with an embarrassing defeat against lowly Wichita State in the second round of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament.

One bright spot during Memphis’ horrific collapse, though, was Nae’Qwan Tomlin. The 6-foot-10 forward was supposed to play with Kaluma at Kansas State last season. But he instead transferred to Memphis last December after being dismissed by KSU.

Tomlin performed well during his half-season with the Tigers, averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in route to an NBA G-League Elite Camp invitation. He later earned a call-up to last month’s NBA Draft Combine, where he put up 7.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 50% shooting in two scrimmages.

Kaluma, who won four NCAA Tournament games in two years at Creighton, could realistically enjoy similar success with a Memphis team that’s reloaded via the transfer portal.

The Tigers’ portal class is headlined by 2024 AAC Freshman of the Year PJ Haggerty (21.2 points per game), sharpshooter Colby Rogers (40.9% from 3-point range on 7.1 tries per game) and former Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tyrese Hunter (11.1 points and 4.1 assists per game).

It also features solid frontcourt pieces in Illinois’ Dain Dainja, SMU’s Tyreek Smith and Ole Miss’ Moussa Cisse (who played for Memphis in 2020-21) to go along with George Mason point guard Baraka Okojie. Freshman guards Jared Harris and Daniel Vieira-Tuck will also join the program next season.

Forward Nick Jourdain, a rising senior, is the Tigers’ only returning scholarship player after Jones officially left the team last week. All 10 of Hardaway’s current scholarship players besides Vieira-Tuck have reported to campus for summer workouts, which began on June 1.

Memphis currently projects as the No. 32 team in the country for next season on barttorvik.com, but would jump to No. 23 if it adds Kaluma. The Tigers have three open scholarships remaining for 2024-25.