Memphis basketball star PJ Haggerty entered the transfer portal April 17 and plans to test the NBA Draft waters, according to a statement from the Memphis athletic department provided to The Commercial Appeal.
The consensus All-American − who finished third in the country in scoring (21.8 points per game) as a sophomore with the Tigers − has two seasons of eligibility left. Entering the transfer portal does not rule out a return to Memphis.
“PJ has notified the athletic department that he wishes to test the NBA Draft process and enter his name in the NCAA transfer portal,” the statement reads. “We are grateful for everything PJ has done for the department and the University of Memphis. We respect his wishes to explore all options.
“PJ has told us that he has enjoyed his experience and Memphis is still on the table once he understands where he is in the draft process.”
The deadline for players testing the NBA Draft waters who choose to return to college is 4 p.m. (CST) June 15.
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Haggerty’s decision gives him flexibility for the future and opens the door for other programs to formally pursue the 6-3 guard.
But it could also complicate things for Memphis, as coach Penny Hardaway is looking to work fast to replenish a potentially depleted roster. The Tigers are losing at least three – and, possibly, all five – starters from this season’s team that reached the NCAA tournament as a 5-seed. Four backups are also either out of eligibility or have entered the transfer portal.
The Tigers have made strides toward reconstructing the roster for the 2025-26 season. Temple guard Quante Berry, Western Kentucky guard Julius “King” Thedford, South Carolina guard Zachary Davis and Saint Mary’s wing Ashton Hardaway have committed to transfer to Memphis. The Tigers are also holding commitments from incoming freshman guard Daniel Vieira-Tuck and junior college transfer guard Felipe Patino.
Although neither are in the transfer portal, it’s unclear whether guard Dante Harris or forward Bouna Kebe will return. First-team All-AAC big man Dain Dainja is also pursuing a waiver for another season, but there is no guarantee the NCAA will grant it.
Haggerty and his future have been the focus of intense speculation for months. He came to the Tigers last offseason on the heels of winning AAC Freshman of the Year honors at Tulsa, but under Hardaway his star rose higher.
Haggerty helped the Tigers win the AAC regular-season championship, the AAC tournament title, locking up the conference player of the year award, unanimous first-team All-AAC and AAC tournament Most Outstanding Player honors in the process. He was also third on the team in rebounding (5.8 per game) and second in the nation in made free throws (224), while shooting 36.4% from the 3-point line.
NIL compensation was the primary focal point of any discussion involving Haggerty’s future. Hardaway said late in the season there was a likelihood that other programs were already using big bucks to lure Haggerty away from Memphis. Multiple valuation estimates peg Haggerty’s NIL worth around $1.7 million.
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