Nae’Qwan Tomlin to make Memphis debut against Vanderbilt.

Memphis basketball is adding its final piece this weekend.

Kansas State transfer Nae’Qwan Tomlin be available when the Tigers host Vanderbilt Saturday (3 p.m., CBS), as first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Tomlin’s availability against the Commodores became official upon final clearance from compliance, sources confirm to Bluff City Media.

Tomlin, who comes from Kansas State, had a productive year in Jerome Tang’s program last season. The 23-year-old averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Wildcats while shooting 50% from the field in 2022-23. He was also a key contributor in Kansas State’s run to the Elite Eight, averaging 12.5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in last season’s NCAA Tournament. A graduate transfer, Tomlin started all 36 games for the Wildcats last year.

He was dismissed from the team by KSU’s administration earlier this month, however, and subsequently entered the transfer portal. Tomlin had previously been suspended since late October, when he got arrested after a physical altercation at a sports bar in Manhattan, Kansas. The 6-foot-10 center was later granted diversion in the case, per The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Tomlin committed to the Tigers earlier this month, and then officially signed with the program Tuesday. He’s now immediately eligible to play for Memphis at any point since he never suited up for Kansas State this season. That immediately eligibility officially kicked in once KSU processed his graduation.

And given Tomlin’s talent, experience and ability, it’s obvious as to why head coach Penny Hardaway wants the Harlem, New York native to play as soon as possible.

“He can guard 1 through 5. He’s a rim protector. He’s an unbelievable rebounder,” Hardaway said after Tuesday’s 77-54 demolition of No. 22 Virginia. “He’s a playmaker. He’s a rim-runner. He gets out and he flies. He can make plays and he can shoot. So, for me, you just put him out there and let him get his feet wet and we’ll just work around him…I think his natural, God-given talent will just take over in areas…If he’s eligible to play, he’s gonna play in the Vanderbilt game for sure.”

But just because Hardaway will play him as soon as possible doesn’t mean he’ll use him as much as possible, at least not immediately.

“[Just] because he plays doesn’t mean he has to play 20-30 minutes…He hasn’t played a game in a while, and I’m gonna go off his flow. I’m not rushing him out there,” Hardaway said. “If he says he’s not ready yet Saturday, he won’t play Saturday. If he’s like ‘give me another week,’ we’ll give him another week. This isn’t about rushing him back.”

Many pundits both locally and nationally are already beaming when they imagine what Memphis could look like now that Tomlin is available. After all, Memphis is already ranked No. 23 in the AP Top 25 poll without him. It already owns five wins over top-55 KenPom opponents without him. Bracketologists Jerry Palm (CBS) and Joe Lunardi (ESPN) are already projecting Memphis as a No. 4 and 5 seed respectively based off the work it’s done without Tomlin. If the Tigers can go 9-2 against this beast of a non-conference schedule without the Kansas State transfer, who knows what they can be with him?

David Jones (20.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game) looks like one of college basketball’s brightest stars. Jahvon Quinerly (13.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game) fits the bill as one of the nation’s finest point guards. The Tigers also have other quality pieces in Caleb Mills (9.4 points per game), Jaykwon Walton (9 points per game), Nick Jourdain (6 points and 4 rebounds per game) and Malcolm Dandridge (6 points and 5 rebounds per game). So, adding Tomlin to the mix could help Memphis become a legitimate National Championship contender this year.

Hardaway isn’t pondering about any of that yet, though. He first wants to see how the newest Tiger looks on the court before jumping to any conclusions. But that doesn’t mean he denies Tomlin’s talent or potential.

“[His impact] has yet to be seen. But with his talent, you can say he’s gonna make a huge impact,” Hardaway said. “I think you gotta know Nae’Qwan just from being around him the last couple days. He’s gonna do whatever it takes. If he just has to go out there and rebound and block shots, that’s what he’ll do. If he has to go out there and post up and makes plays, that’s what he’ll do…He’s just willing to do whatever we need him to do and that’s a beautiful thing…[The rest of the team] loves him because he’s such an easy-going guy…He’s flowed right in.”