Alabama transfer point guard Jahvon Quinerly is committed to head coach Penny Hardaway and Memphis basketball, per sources.
Quinerly chose the Tigers over the likes of Miami, Auburn and Michigan after entering the portal on June 25. He visited Memphis on July 5 prior to his public commitment.
Quinerly’s commitment means that Memphis has filled 12 of its 13 scholarships. It is possible, however, that Jayden Hardaway becomes a walk-on. That scenario leaves Memphis with two open scholarships.
What Adding Quinerly Means for the Tigers
Quinerly is the finishing piece for Memphis’ backcourt.
The 24-year-old senior, who turns 25 in November, projects as the Tigers’ starting point guard this season. This means that either Mills or Jones will start in an off-ball role. Jones can play the 3 if necessary, though.
Regardless, Memphis now has a group of guards that can equal, if not outshine, new AAC foe Florida Atlantic’s returning duo of Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin. It also has the experience and production the team needs for its challenging non-conference slate.
Quinerly in particular provides a unique blend of scoring, shooting and playmaking that will be quite valuable to Penny Hardaway’s team.
After starting his college career at Villanova, the former McDonald’s All-American was arguably Alabama’s best player in 2021 and 2022. During the former year, he averaged 12.9 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and 43.3% from three-point range. In the latter year, he put up 13.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1% from the field and 28.1% from three-point range.
In 2023, his final season at Alabama, Quinerly averaged 8.7 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. He also won the SEC’s Co-6th Man of the Year award, sharing the honor with Kentucky’s Antonio Reeves.
What’s Next?
With Quinerly now on board, Memphis is probably done making its additions from the transfer portal.
Memphis should already be the AAC favorite over FAU with the addition of Quinerly. But it’d be undeniable if DeAndre Williams is once again a Tiger in 2023-24.
Memphis’ staff also seems interested in welcoming Malcolm Dandridge back to the team. Dandridge would provide Memphis with an insurance policy for Brown, as well as general frontcourt depth.
His return isn’t a given, though. The 6-foot-9 center is reportedly in contact with West Virginia and interim head coach Josh Eilert. Dandridge also took a visit to Saint Louis last month.
West Virginia is in contact with Memphis transfer Malcolm Dandridge, per source
Dandridge (6-foot-9) averaged 5.7 PTS, 3.6 REB and 1.0 BLK in 20 games. One year of eligibility remaining
Perhaps the most significant part of Quinerly’s commitment is the ramifications it likely holds for Mikey Williams.
The 6-foot-3 guard’s preliminary hearing for his 6 gun-related felony charges was postponed from June 29 to July 12 three weeks ago, and was postponed again to Sept. 5 on Friday. The odds of Mikey Williams playing for Memphis have been dropping since the news of his charges broke on April 14.
Quinerly’s pledge to the Tigers likely reduces those odds to almost zero.
Senior Editor for Tiger Blueprint. See more of my work on Bluff City Media, where I’m the Memphis basketball beat writer, the Men in Hoodies podcast on Apple and Spotify and on “Sports with Roman Cleary” live on University of Memphis Radio—The ROAR Fridays from 3-4 p.m. during the fall and spring.
