Following the conclusion of a recruiting dead period, the transfer portal is starting to pick up once again this weekend. Schools around the country are hosting official visitors on their campuses, including Memphis.
The upcoming week is going to be a big one for Penny Hardaway and Tiger basketball as they host a bevy of visitors. Therefore, who are the names to know?
Weekend Visitors
Memphis is scheduled to host two visitors on campus this weekend.
Aaron Scott, North Texas
North Texas transfer Aaron Scott will be on campus this weekend, beginning a visit this afternoon. The rising senior has one year of eligibility remaining. Per Hitmen Hoops, Memphis is in “a very good spot” in this recruitment. Scott will also visit St. John’s on Monday. Can Penny Hardaway close the deal before he gets there?
Scott, a 6’7 forward, is one of the best wing players in the portal. He started 34 of the 34 games he appeared in for the Mean Green. A quintessential ‘3&D’ player, Scott is a good shooter who brings good defensive versatility on the perimeter.
He averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game this season. Furthermore, Scott shot 41.9% from the field, 37.0% from three, and 78.9% from the free throw line.
Arturo Dean, FIU
FIU transfer guard Arturo Dean will join Scott on campus this weekend, sources tell Hitmen Hoops. The rising junior has two years of eligibility remaining.
Dean is a 5’11 guard and is known for his defensive prowess. He lead the country in steals this season with the Panthers, accumulating 104 across 31 games and 30 starts. Offensively, Dean is a lightning quick guard that gets paint touches consistently and is a creative finisher around the rim.
He averaged 13.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.4 steals per game this season. Furthermore, Dean shot 41.8% from the field, 30.3% from three, and 64.4% from the free throw line.
Mid-Week Visitors
Memphis is scheduled to host a second North Texas transfer on campus next week.
John Buggs III, North Texas
North Texas transfer guard John Buggs III will be taking a visit to Memphis starting next Thursday, he tells Hitmen Hoops. The redshirt junior guard has one year of eligibility remaining. He has spent stints at UMass, UTSA, Hill College (JUCO), and North Texas.
Buggs is a 6’2 guard known primarily for his outside shooting. He is one of the premiere movement shooters available in the transfer portal, and possesses a lightning quick release. Buggs would be a tremendous addition to improve spacing around Dain Dainja and PJ Haggerty. He also started 26 of the 29 games he played in for the Mean Green.
He averaged 7.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.5 steals per game this season. Furthermore, Buggs shot 44.4% from the floor, 45.1% from three (4.6 attempts), and 90.0% from the free throw line.
Other Names to Know
Memphis is in active pursuit of Wichita State transfer guard Colby Rogers. The junior guard has one year of eligibility remaining. He has spent stints at Cal Poly, Siena, and Wichita State. This season, he started 34 of the 34 games he played in.
Rogers is a 6’4 guard known for his outside shooting prowess. He was tremendous in three games against Memphis this season, averaging 17.3 points and connecting on 12 threes in those matchups. Rogers also possesses the ability to create his own shot and make plays with the ball in his hand. He has a solid arsenal of moves with plenty of counters to what defenses throw at him.
He averaged 16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game this season. Furthermore, Rogers shot 40.0% from the field, 40.9% from three, and 82.8% from the free throw line.
New Name to Watch
Memphis has shown recent interest in Washington State transfer big Rueben Chinyelu as well, per Hitmen Hoops. The freshman big man has three years of eligibility remaining. An NBA-Academy Africa product, the 20-year old freshman made 12 starts in the 35 games he played in.
Chinyelu is a 6’11 center with elite defensive upside. Despite playing in just 13.9 minutes per contest, he showcased his rim protection ability and athleticism for the Cougars this season. Chinyelu is raw offensively, but is great at finishing around the rim, using his athleticism and strength.
He averaged 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game this season. Furthemore, Chinyelu shot 61.7% from the floor and 48.9% from the free throw line, while not attempting a three.
What Memphis is Prioritizing
With the recruitment of Scott, Dean, and Buggs III, it’s apparent that Penny Hardaway and Memphis are prioritizing defense and shooting. That emphasis is only further bolstered by the Tigers’ pursuit and interest of Colby Rogers and Rueben Chinyelu.
Shooting and defense are two important traits to build around a star guard and big, and this group of players would be tremendous complementary pieces in the rotation were Memphis to add them.
