Memphis Tigers Basketball

Top-rated prospect Mikey Williams announced Saturday he will play for Memphis at the next level, per Clayton Collier of ABC 24 Memphis.

Williams will be joined by four-star JJ Taylor, who also announced his commitment to play for the Tigers on Saturday.

Williams, a combo guard, is considered a 4-star recruit and rated the No. 22 overall player in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Williams has also gained plenty of attention for his social media presence, with millions of followers on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. The prep star was the first high school player ever to earn a sneaker deal with a global footwear company when he signed with Puma, per Nick DePaula of ESPN.

"His talent on the court and his ability to connect with young athletes and fans alike will help drive hoops culture forward and inspire the next generation of athletes," Adam Petrick, global director of brand and marketing at Puma, said in a statement.

Williams' on-court play should not be overlooked as an elite scorer who can attack the basket or make shots from the perimeter. The 6'2" guard has turned heads nationally since his freshman season:

This is just Mikey Williams' freshman year in HS 🔥 @brhoops https://t.co/b6poQ2s28U

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 14, 2020

It got the attention of all the top programs in the country, although he kept his options open during the recruiting process.

Williams ended up selecting Memphis as he tries to put himself on track to playing in the NBA.

The school can help prepare him for the NBA as he looks to reach expectations as a top draft pick. In the meantime, he should be a high-level contributor as soon as he steps on to campus and likely a go-to offensive option during his freshman season.

After being cleared of any NCAA rules violations for providing benefits to prospective student-athletes, Memphis head basketball coach Penny Hardaway has received a contract extension from the university.

Per Jason Munz of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Hardaway has agreed to a deal with the Tigers that pays him a total of $16.5 million through the 2027-28 season.

Hardaway previously signed a five-year deal in December 2020 that kept him with the school through the 2025-26 season. That contract was a total of $12.25 million.

According to Munz, this new agreement amends the terms of that previous contract by adding two more years and increasing Hardaway's total annual compensation.

"As I have said many times, this is a dream position for me, and I do not take it for granted," Hardaway said in a statement released by the school. "I would like to thank Laird Veatch, University of Memphis President Dr. Bill Hardgrave and the Board of Trustees for their support, and I cannot wait to keep working each and every day for our City, our University and our program."

The Tigers have been the subject of an infractions investigation for several years. The NCAA announced on Sept. 27 that the program committed multiple Level II and Level III violations related to James Wiseman's eligibility status during the 2019-20 season, the basketball program and compliance staff.

Memphis' basketball program was placed on three years' probation through Sept. 26, 2025, and received a fine of $5,000 plus 0.25 percent of the men's basketball budget.

Hardaway was cleared of any wrongdoing stemming from a payment of $11,500 to Wiseman and his family prior to his arrival on campus. The former NBA All-Star was considered a booster by the NCAA at the time the payment was made because he donated $1 million to the school in 2008 to help build a sports hall of fame.

Born and raised in Memphis, Hardaway played for the Tigers from 1990-93. He moved into the coaching ranks in 2015 when he was hired as an assistant at East High School.

After Tubby Smith was fired in March 2018, the University of Memphis tabbed Hardaway as its next head basketball coach. He has led the program to four consecutive 20-win seasons.

The Tigers made the NCAA tournament last season for the first time since 2013-14. They defeated Boise State in the first round before falling to Gonzaga in the Round of 32.

The University of Memphis men's basketball program has been placed on probation for three years and received a $5,000 fine for Level II and Level III recruiting violations by the NCAA.

News: Here are the penalties levied by the IARP against Memphis in the James Wiseman case.

Relatively light, on first glance. pic.twitter.com/aDh77ZKw8H

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) September 27, 2022

The penalty came after allegations that head coach Penny Hardaway paid former player James Wiseman and his family $11,500 to move to Memphis while he was still in high school, per Jeff Goodman of Stadium.

The Independent Resolution Panel also ruled Memphis must vacate all wins involving Wiseman, which amounted to just three games.

Wiseman, who is now on the Golden State Warriors, was the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports composite rankings. He averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks across three games before the NCAA suspended him 12 games for recruiting violations.

The $11,500 from Hardaway came in 2017 when he was a coach at East High School in Memphis, but the NCAA considered him a booster for the Tigers since he had donated money to his alma mater. He didn't become the Memphis coach until 2018.

Once Wiseman's appeal was denied, he left school and instead prepared for the NBA draft.

"I wanted to have a great collegiate career," Wiseman told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski in 2020. "I wanted to win a national championship. But throughout the course of the first two games, everything started to go down in terms of my mental [well-being]. I was getting depressed. It was dehumanizing for me."

Wiseman became the No. 2 pick of the 2020 NBA draft, but his professional career has been limited by injuries.

The University of Memphis has thrown its hat in the ring for Bronny James.

Per Joe Tipton of On3.com, the Tigers have offered the Sierra Canyon High School star a scholarship.

According to Tipton, Memphis is believed to be the fourth college program to make James a scholarship offer. USC, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central are the others.

James' recruitment is going to be one of the biggest stories around college basketball until he makes a decision.

Earlier this week, Jamie Shaw of On3.com reported Oregon and Ohio State are also in the recruiting mix for James.

Shaw noted Oregon was considered the front-runner, but Bronny's father, LeBron James, seemed to dismiss the notion that any school was in the lead at this early stage in the recruiting process:

He hasn’t taken 1 visit yet and has only had a few calls with coaches and universities. When Bronny makes his choice you’ll hear it from him. #JamesGang👑 https://t.co/BBciKxl7m8

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 17, 2022

The 17-year-old James appears to be carving out an excellent path on his own. He is a 4-star prospect and No. 43 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports composite rankings.

In his scouting report of James for 247Sports, Eric Bossi noted the 6'3" shooting guard has "added some pop on drives to the rim through traffic or in transition" and he is a "fantastic passer."

Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina are among the other notable programs with at least some level of interest in James.

Since taking over as head coach at his alma mater, Penny Hardaway has made the Tigers a force in recruiting. They had the top-ranked class in 2021 with six total commits, including 5-stars Emoni Bates and Jalen Duran, per 247Sports composite rankings.

Memphis has won at least 20 games in each of Hardaway's first four seasons. The program made the NCAA tournament last season for the first time since 2013-14 as the No. 9 seed in the West Region.

The Tigers defeated Boise State in the first round before falling to No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga in the second round.

The Memphis Tigers and head basketball coach Penny Hardaway are reportedly recruiting Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, according to Jamie Shaw of On3.com.

Per that report, Hardaway was present at the July Peach Jam basketball camp, among a number of college coaches and NBA scouts and front-office personnel.

Bronny James is considered a 4-star recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings and the No. 43 player in the Class of 2023, the No. 12 player from the state of California and the No. 7 shooting guard.

Eric Bossi of the recruiting site offered the following scouting report on the young player:

Slowly but surely, Bronny James is starting to come into his own as a player on a loaded Sierra Canyon team. James' 6'3" frame has filled out nicely and he's added some pop on drives to the rim through traffic or in transition. One of his strengths is his ability to make catch-and-shoot jump shots and he is a fantastic passer. James gives good effort on the defensive end where he plays with toughness and versatility. There are times where he can be a bit passive on the offensive end, but overall he has made positive strides as a junior.

He has certainly provided some nice highlights in his young career:

This Bronny James block looks familiar 👀 @SCNext pic.twitter.com/q9L07V5jDM

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 18, 2022

BRONNY JAMES THROWS IT DOWN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ikJ8ksPVSx

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 15, 2022

Shaw reported Tuesday that Oregon, Ohio State and USC were in the running for the young guard, adding that, "Sources tell us that ... heading into visits, Oregon has a lead and that James will end up in Eugene."

There would be a natural Nike connection between the James family and Oregon, given that LeBron James has a lifetime deal with the company and its co-founder, Phil Knight, is a Ducks alum.

LeBron quickly shut down that rumor, however:

He hasn’t taken 1 visit yet and has only had a few calls with coaches and universities. When Bronny makes his choice you’ll hear it from him. #JamesGang👑 https://t.co/BBciKxl7m8

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 17, 2022

As for Memphis, Hardaway has been an adept recruiter during his tenure. He nabbed 5-star center James Wiseman in the Class of 2019, another 5-star center in 2020 (Moussa Cisse), a pair of 5-star talents in Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren in 2021 and a slew of 4-star recruits along the way.

Wiseman and Duren are in the NBA. Cisse and Bates ultimately left the school via the transfer portal.

There's little doubt that wherever Bronny James ends up after high school, it will be a high-profile, splashy addition.

Former 5-star forward Emoni Bates has transferred to Eastern Michigan, he told Joe Tipton of On3.com.

"I'm committing to Eastern Michigan," Bates told Tipton. "I'm coming home."

Bates grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where EMU is located.

The news comes after Bates revealed in a previous interview with Tipton of On3.com that he had entered the transfer portal on April 16 after just one season with the Memphis Tigers.

"I'd like to thank Coach Penny, my teammates, and the entire coaching staff at the University of Memphis for giving me the opportunity to be a Tiger. Thank you Tiger Nation for embracing me and all of you who supported our team throughout this season. With that being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal," Bates said at the time.

Bates averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 38.6 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from deep in 18 games.

The 18-year-old's path to Memphis was an interesting one, as he was expected to play professionally right out of high school. Before his junior year in 2020, however, Bates committed to Michigan State. He then reopened his recruitment in April 2021 and ultimately committed to Memphis in August.

In June 2019, ESPN ranked Bates as the top high school player in the nation, aside from class. He was above now-NBA stars Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga.

Bates' decision to join the Eagles comes as no surprise after he listed Eastern Michigan as one of his top six schools in early May. He also told Tipton in a previous interview that he was seriously considering his hometown school.

"People probably look at me crazy because I’m considering Eastern," Bates said in May. "But if I went there, I would be like the neighborhood hero. I used to play at Eastern during my high school games when I was at Lincoln, and we used to pack it out every time. That would be crazy for me to be able to bring love to the city."

Louisville, Michigan, Seton Hall and DePaul were among the other schools Bates considered.

Bates undoubtedly has the ability to be a great player, it's now just about unlocking his potential, and he should be able to do that with his hometown Eagles.

Potential lottery pick Jalen Duren is headed to the NBA after just one season with the Memphis Tigers.

Duren told Jonathan Givony of ESPN he is entering the 2022 NBA draft and plans on signing with an agent. The big man averaged 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 59.7 percent from the field in his one collegiate campaign.

The 18-year-old seemed destined for the NBA for some time.

Givony noted the Pennsylvania native made waves as a 15-year-old when he was a member of the USA Basketball team that won a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship. He also graduated high school a year early and played his first game for the Tigers at 17 years old.

The 6'11", 250-pound Duren arrived at Memphis as a 5-star prospect and part of the school's No. 1 class in 2021, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

However, the results for the Tigers never quite lived up to the hype. Memphis struggled with consistency on the way to a No. 9 seed in the NCAA men's tournament and was eliminated in the second round by Gonzaga.

Fellow 2021 5-star recruit Emoni Bates appears to also be on the way out of Memphis considering he is in the transfer portal.

Despite the Tigers' overall inconsistency, Duren flashed his potential with nine double-doubles throughout the season. One of them came in the team's first-round win over Boise State in the Big Dance, and another came when he posted 21 points and 20 rebounds in an American Athletic Conference tournament game against UCF.

"I'm looking forward to showing NBA people how much better I've gotten with my skill level and what my game really is with my touch around the basket and shooting the ball," he said. "There are a lot of little things I can bring an NBA team with my effort, energy, mindset and work ethic. I'm big on winning. I'll do whatever it takes to get the W."

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Duren to be the No. 12 overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in his most recent mock draft.          

Emoni Bates' time on the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team has ended after one season.

"I'd like to thank Coach Penny, my teammates, and the entire coaching staff at the University of Memphis for giving me the opportunity to be a Tiger," he said in a statement, per Joe Tipton of On3Sports. "Thank you Tiger Nation for embracing me and all of you who supported our team throughout this season. With that being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal."

Bates failed to live up to the sky-high expectations that surrounded him as a 5-star prospect, as rated by 247Sports' composite rankings. He was a key part of Memphis' No. 1 class in 2021, but the Tigers also struggled to establish much consistency and finished as a No. 9 seed in the NCAA tournament.

As Tipton noted, Bates had quite the journey before even arriving at Memphis.

Michigan State was the only program that seriously recruited him in the early going because most teams expected him to go a professional route before eventually playing in the NBA. Yet he reclassified to the 2021 class and decommitted from the Spartans before choosing Memphis over the G League.

Bates appeared in just 18 games for the Tigers and missed all of February and some time in March because of a back injury. He averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per night while shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from three-point range.

While he flashed his potential with 15 or more points in each of his first three games, he never reached that mark again all season.

Bates also finished with just three points in three minutes in a Big Dance win over Boise State and had five points in 12 minutes in the team's loss to Gonzaga in the second round.

Tipton explained the 18-year-old Bates cannot just go into the NBA at this point because players must turn 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft to be eligible. That means transferring to another school or playing in the G League could be an option.            

Head coach Penny Hardaway and the University of Memphis men's basketball program are reportedly alleged to have committed multiple Level I and Level II NCAA violations.

According to Steven Johnson of the Daily Memphian, a notice of allegations recently received by Memphis from the Independent Accountability Resolution Process levies three allegations against Hardaway and seven against the school.

Hardaway is reportedly alleged to have committed one Level I violation and two Level II violations, while the university is believed to be responsible for four Level I infractions and two Level II infractions. A seventh violation against the school had the level redacted.

Among the allegations against Hardaway and the University of Memphis is that they failed to cooperate with an investigation. The notice alleges that Memphis failed to "report acts of noncompliance in a timely manner" and didn't provide access to all electronic devices.

Additionally, it is alleged that Memphis displayed a lack of institutional control and failure to monitor, while Hardaway failed to establish a culture of compliance.

One notable and well-publicized allegation against Hardaway since becoming the head coach at Memphis in 2018 related to then-Memphis and current Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman.

Hardaway, who coached Wiseman at Memphis East High School before becoming the head coach at the University of Memphis, gave Wiseman's mother $11,500 in moving expenses during his time as a high school coach.

It was later determined to be a violation because Hardaway was deemed a booster for the University of Memphis due to donations he gave to his alma mater.

Wiseman was ruled ineligible for a time and eventually withdrew from Memphis after appearing in just three games for the program.

In his four seasons as head coach at Memphis, Hardaway has posted an 85-43 record, and he led the Tigers to the NCAA tournament for the first time this season.

Memphis beat Boise State in the first round as a No. 9 seed but narrowly fell to top-seeded Gonzaga 82-78 in the second round.

The 50-year-old Hardaway is also known for his 14-year NBA career with the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Miami Heat, during which he was a four-time All-Star.

Per Johnson, the NCAA's decision on Memphis will take into account the fact that the program was found guilty of Level I and Level II violations in 1986, 1989, 2005 and 2009.

The NCAA will also consider that Memphis has self-reported 32 Level III violations over the past three years.

No. 1 Gonzaga is onto the Sweet 16 once again after surviving an upset bid from No. 9 Memphis in the second round of the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament. 

Drew Timme scored 21 of his 25 points after halftime in the 82-78 win Saturday at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

In a battle that exceeded nearly all expectations, Memphis utilized its athleticism to keep Gonzaga in check early. The underdogs jumped out to a 41-31 lead at halftime while holding Timme and Chet Holmgren to just six combined points.

The Bulldogs fought back in the second half, but neither side could pull away as players on each team showcased their talent:

Emoni Bates fadeaway.
Chet Holmgren dunk.

Gonzaga vs. Memphis 🍿 https://t.co/W4qq38UlAr

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2022

Even when foul trouble became a major story for Memphis, the team refused to back down. The scoring margin remained within five points for the final 16 minutes of regulation, aside from two possessions that was quickly answered.

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1505390079027593217

Hell of an Elite Eight game here in the second round.

— Brian Hamilton (@_Brian_Hamilton) March 20, 2022

Gonzaga finally grabbed a bit of control in the closing minutes with its rapid pace making a difference:

What a sequence for @ZagMBB. pic.twitter.com/Zw56sBFl05

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2022

The Bulldogs survived by hitting their final six free-throw attempts in the narrow win. 

They have now reached at least the second weekend in each of the last seven tournaments and remain a favorite to win it all this postseason.

Memphis was hoping to bust brackets around the country, but the Tigers fell just short despite 14 points from DeAndre Williams. 

---

Notable Performances

Drew Timme, F, GONZ: 25 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists

Andrew Nembhard, G, GONZ: 23 points, 5 assists, 5-10 from 3

Chet Holmgren, C, GONZ: 9 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks

Jalen Duren, C, MEM: 7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block

DeAndre Williams, F, MEM: 14 points, 7 rebounds

Tyler Harris, G, MEM: 13 points, 3 assists

---

Drew Timme Leads Gonzaga with 2nd-Half Takeover 

Timme had just four points in the first half as Gonzaga struggled to even get the ball in the post. It was a major reason the squad trailed by 10 with an offense that looked lost at times.

The star big man woke up in the second half, scoring the team's first 11 points out of intermission to get back into the game in impressive fashion.

DREW TIMME IS NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT! 🔥

He has ALL of the Zags Second Half points😳@ZagMBB #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/POKltKCu3U

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2022

DREW TIMME CAN'T MISS RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/6HCL9RuHrO

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2022

Drew Timme playing like Tim Duncan right now…with a mustache and a head band.

— Pat Welter WRAL (@PatrickWelter) March 20, 2022

Drew Timme is unstoppable right now like Scottie Pippen in NBA Live 95.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) March 20, 2022

Drew Timme is disgusting🤣

— Joel Ayayi (@joel_ayayi) March 20, 2022

The production continued as Memphis had few answers for Timme in the post, especially once Jalen Duren and DeAndre Williams each picked up four fouls.

Drew Timme is COOKING 🔥

22 PTS and counting https://t.co/xdSFXfWqWF

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2022

Timme 🏀 Chet

Get to Gonzaga vs. Memphis now: https://t.co/zOE1aXmzFY https://t.co/zsh4rqx3LK

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2022

Gonzaga still would not have won without Andrew Nembhard, who kept the Bulldogs in contention with 13 points in the first half. 

https://twitter.com/percyallen/status/1505366504753168390

The guard finished with five three-pointers and had some of the biggest shots in the game:

ANDREW NEMBHARD FOR THREEEEE

THE ZAGS ARE UP 5 WITH FOUR MINUTES LEFT 😱@ZagMBB #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/vYuMS41Qi4

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2022

His 6-of-7 from the free-throw line also helped ice the game.

Holmgren is the best pro prospect on the roster, but it was the upperclassmen Timme and Nembhard who carried the squad to victory. 

---

Foul Trouble Silences Chet Holmgren-Jalen Duren Battle

The big story entering the game was the frontcourt battle between potential NBA lottery picks Chet Holmgren and Jalen Duren. The matchup lived up to the hype early with both players showcasing their ability.

Duren got loose a few times and had several big plays. 

Alex Lomax finds Jalen Duren for the alley-oop! 😱

Tigers tie it up against (1) Gonzaga 👀#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yYw99KBQuC

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 20, 2022

Duren bodied Chet Holmgren 😳 https://t.co/aFGsocg9p8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 20, 2022

It's hard to believe Jalen Duren is 18 years old.

He looks like an NBA-ready player now.

— Gary Horcher (@GaryKIRO7) March 20, 2022

Holmgren had some big moments as well when the two matched up in the post:

Chet Holmgren - He is up for the challenge of this Memphis frontcourt. Already has two blocks on Duren.

— Travis Green (@ItsTravisGreen) March 20, 2022

So far, Chet Holmgren has disrupted or blocked three inside attempts by #Memphis.
He appears vastly outsized by Jalen Duren, but his length and footwork are matching Duren's inside strength.#Gonzaga #MarchMadness

— Gary Horcher (@GaryKIRO7) March 20, 2022

Holmgren finished with four blocks and altered quite a few more as Memphis stayed away from the rim.

It was a fun atmosphere to see the two stars battling in the post:

During Gonzaga-Memphis it's highly entertaining to just watch Chet Holmgren and Jalen Duren go at it on every play.

— Greg Bishop (@GregBishopSI) March 20, 2022

I think this is the most aggressive I’ve seen Jalen Duren hunt his shot in the first half of a game this year. He wants this matchup against Holmgren and you can see he sees it as the chance to prove himself.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 20, 2022

The disappointment only came when both players dealt with foul trouble. Each sat for long stretches of the first half after picking up two fouls, combining for just six points at halftime.

Duren was then limited in the second half after picking up two more quick fouls. 

Duren picks up his fourth with 14:30 to play, two tough calls on him this half.

— S. Johnson (@StevenMJohnson_) March 20, 2022

Penny had every opportunity to get Duren out with the three fouls. I don’t get leaving him in longer than you needed to there.

— L. Jason Smith (@JasonSmith929) March 20, 2022

Second-leading scorer and fellow big man DeAndre Williams then dealt with his own foul trouble, picking up his fourth foul with more than 10 minutes remaining:

https://twitter.com/percyallen/status/1505383642670850052

Memphis fortunately stayed competitive, and Duren made a few plays late in the game. However, he finished with only seven points and seven rebounds. 

Holmgren, meanwhile, fouled out in the last minute and scored just nine points.

Fans were treated to an excellent team battle, although scouts were likely left wanting more.