An important quality to winning is finding players who play for the name on the front of the jersey rather than the back. That is exactly the approach Penny Hardaway and company have taken to the transfer portal recently.
Memphis has reached out to two local talents in the transfer portal (per Hitmen Hoops): Sam Houston State transfer Davon Barnes and Morehead State transfer Mark Freeman.
What should Tigers fans know about these two players?
Davon Barnes, Sam Houston State
Davon Barnes is a junior from Memphis, Tennessee. He played his senior year of high school at Collierville. The 6’5 guard spent his first two collegiate seasons at Texas Southern before spending his junior campaign with Sam Houston State. Barnes has one year of eligibility remaining.
The SHSU transfer has a collection of high-major suitors, including LSU, Ole Miss, Xavier, and Virginia Tech. This season, he averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. He shot 42.1% from the field, 39.1% from the three-point line, and 83.7% from the charity stripe.
Barnes’ Game
At 6’5, 215 pounds, Davon Barnes possesses a strong frame that certainly shows up on film. While primarily profiling as an off-ball shotmaker, Barnes began to showcase more on-ball shot creation ability this season. He scored 1.115 points per possession on 26 isolation possessions this season, using his frame, athleticism, and
The junior wing does most of his damage in a spot-up and catch and shoot role. He makes quick decisions with the ball in his hands and is a good connective piece offensively. Barnes uses headfakes to get defenders off balance and create open shots for himself. He is a 1-2 dribble shotmaker that consistently plays off two feet and loves getting to his spots in the midrange, particularly on the right side of the court. Barnes had a 57.8 eFG% on catch and shoot opportunities and scored 0.973 points per possession on spot-up opportunities.
Barnes loves to use his body and his strength to ward off defenders when driving along the baseline. His strength allows him to create separation at the point of contact in the air and he possesses enough vertical athleticism to make use of that strength in the paint. He shot 52.4% at the rim this season, and was even more successful using his combination of strength and athleticism in transition. He was incredibly efficient on those opportunities, scoring 1.38 points per possession in transition, a mark that ranks in the nation’s 88th percentile.
Mark Freeman, Morehead State
Mark Freeman is a graduate transfer from Memphis, Tennessee. He played his high school ball at Southwind. The 5’11 guard spent his first two collegiate seasons at Tennessee State before moving on and playing one year at Illinois State and Morehead State. After winning the OVC Player of the Year at Morehead State in the 2022-23 season, he missed this entire season with a wrist injury. Freeman has one year of eligibility remaining.
Last season, he averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He shot 40.5% from the field, 36.2% from the three-point line, and 86.4% from the charity stripe.
Freeman’s Game
Despite his smaller stature, Mark Freeman is a really talented shot-making guard. The 5’11, 170 pound graduate is quick and shifty with the ball in his hands and is always looking to make a play. He is a very talented and crafty ball handler, and consistently keeps his dribble alive.
Freeman is a fantastic shooter and he can get to his jumper in a variety of ways. He has a knack for making deep and guarded jump shots, and can connect on movement shots as well. He had a 59.5 eFG% on catch and shoot opportunities and had a 57.8 eFG% on guarded jumpers. What makes this more impressive is the difficulty of those shot attempts, with Freeman taking 135 dribble jumpers last season.
For his size, Freeman is an impressive finisher at the rim. The 5’11 guard has good athleticism that allows him to hang in the air longer than opposing defenders. He, too, has good touch with both hands and is a creative finisher overall.
Freeman is a talented passer as well. He showcased his ability to fire passes into toight windows with either hand and is effective in running the pick and roll. Freeman had a ridiculous 27.9% assist percentage last season.
Freeman’s quickness translates to the defensive end as well. He is a menace on that end, possessing lightning quick feet and hands that bother offensive players. He is always in passing lanes and is a terror on ball, navigating screens effectively. Freeman limited opposing players to a 39.5 eFG% last season, a very impressive number.
What This Means for Memphis
Penny Hardaway is looking to construct a roster filled with players that have a fire and passion for Memphis basketball. Recruiting two Memphis natives out of the transfer portal is one of the better ways to accomplish that goal.
It doesn’t stop with those two, however, as Creighton transfer and former Tiger Johnathan Lawson confirmed to Hitmen Hoops that Memphis was in contact. The Memphis native did not play much at either stop, but brings value with his shooting ability. He shot 41.3% from beyond the arc in a Tiger uniform.
Barnes, Freeman, and Lawson would each play complimentary roles for the Tigers. Barnes’ strength and off-ball prowess and Freeman’s nuclear shooting, playmaking capabalities, and menacing defense would be valuable additions to this Memphis roster. Furthermore, Lawson would bring added depth with his shooting talent.
Memphis is starting to look strong in the backcourt with the additions of PJ Haggerty and Colby Rogers. Adding Barnes, Freeman, or Lawson would only bolster what is already a team strength.
