Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly is entering the transfer portal, as first reported by On3’s Joe Tipton.
Memphis is the early favorite for Quinerly after it missed on West Virginia’s Kerr Kriisa. But sources tell Tiger Blueprint that Miami, Auburn and Michigan are also contenders for Quinerly’s services.
NEWS: Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly plans to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @On3sports.
The 6-foot-1 guard spent his first collegiate season at Villanova before transferring to Alabama, where he played for three seasons. Though this is his second time entering the portal, Quinerly will be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer.
Quinerly was a star during his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
In 2021, 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. He improved upon those numbers in 2022, averaging 13.8 points and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 41.1% from the field and 28.1% from three-point range.
However, Quinerly’s numbers regressed in 2023 with the emergence of freshman wing Brandon Miller. The senior guard averaged 8.7 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. Despite the reduced role, he still managed to win SEC Co-6th Man of the Year, sharing the honor with Kentucky’s Antonio Reeves.
He was probably going to play a similar role in 2024 after Alabama acquired backcourt pieces like Aaron Estrada in the transfer portal.
That, along with NIL, is probably why Quinerly is entering the portal.
How Quinerly Fits with Memphis
Quinerly would be the finishing piece for Memphis’ backcourt.
It already features Caleb Mills and David Jones, but they’re more-so combo guards than point guards. Their jobs are to score, not to distribute.
The team’s only true point guard option is UCF transfer Jayhlon Young. Though Young is good, Memphis needs another playmaking guard. Quinerly would be exactly that.
Memphis remains very active in the transfer portal besides Quinerly. Its other main target is Louisiana’s Jordan Brown, who’d be an instant fixture at the 5.
The Tigers are also looking to bring back All-AAC forward DeAndre Williams, who awaits a waiver decision from the NCAA. Malcolm Dandridge may also return to the program if his other options fall through.
Mikey Williams’ status is still unknown. The 4-star recruit’s preliminary hearing for his 6 gun-related felony charges was postponed from June 29 to July 12 last week. The likelihood of him playing for Memphis continues to dip as his legal process goes on.
Memphis’ pursuit of Quinerly further supports that theory.
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.
