IRVING, Texas — Tyrese Hunter and PJ Haggerty: Memphis basketball’s new backcourt projects as a flashy, high-profile and dynamic duo.
And as they circulated from station to station Sunday during AAC Media Days at the Westin Irving Convention Center, they exuded a comfort and confidence together that bodes well for Penny Hardaway’s team in 2024-25.
That Hardaway chose his preseason first-team All-AAC picks to represent Memphis at the annual event indicates how assured he feels that the Tigers will go as far as Hunter and Haggerty will take them. That maybe they will need to be two halves of the same brain.
That kind of spotlight tends to be accompanied by a certain amount of pressure. But that’s not how they’re choosing to look at things.
“There’s no pressure,” the always even-keeled Hunter told The Commercial Appeal Sunday. “We haven’t had our first official game with each other yet, and everybody has room for improvement. But we’re pretty confident.
“And, our teammates, they can do stuff for us, too.”
Each time Hunter and Haggerty have been given the opportunity to speak with the media, mutual respect and admiration is always present. For Hunter, his new teammate’s – the reigning AAC Freshman of the Year – confidence and competitiveness (“the will to win”) stand out above all else.
Haggerty — a top-25 scorer in the country last season (with 21.6 points per game at Tulsa) and the AAC Freshman of the Year — said Hunter’s play style is well suited for Hardaway’s offensive philosophy, perfectly complements his game and inspires him to take it to the next level.
“He plays fast,” Haggerty said, nodding with a slight grin. “Crafty guard. Being able to score, pass. For him to be able to push the ball, be aggressive, get everybody else open. Being able to play defense, play hard.
“I feel like every time we practice, I just know he’s going to play hard. So, it just motivates me to play harder.”
Hunter and Haggerty won’t be alone in the Tigers’ backcourt. George Mason transfer guard Baraka Okojie could be Hardaway’s top bench option. Wichita State transfer Colby Rogers will primarily line up at the 3 but has the versatility to bring the ball up the floor and guard other backcourt players.
Okojie spent most of the summer recovering from shoulder surgery to repair a lingering issue. But, Hunter said, the sophomore recently returned to “light contact” drills in practice. It is unclear whether he will be available to play when Memphis hosts North Carolina (6 p.m. CT, ESPNU) Tuesday in the Hoops For St. Jude Tip Off Classic, a preseason charity exhibition game.
MEMPHIS BASKETBALL: Tigers second in AAC preseason poll. Why it makes sense and one Tiger who got snubbed
“He’s for sure going to have an impact on us and this team,” Hunter said of Okojie. “Baraka was out there this week, playing. He was looking good. He has a high IQ and iron sharpens iron.”
For Haggerty — whose scoring ability is predicated on aggressiveness and his ability to get to the basket — having someone like Rogers only accentuates his potential.
“His ability to score, shoot the ball well. I think it helps, not just me, but the team in general,” Haggerty said. “I think that’ll open up a lot of gaps for me and everybody . . . (It will create) open shots for a lot of people.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
