Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway has bolstered his backcourt depth with the addition of midseason transfer point guard Dante Harris, multiple sources confirmed to The Commercial Appeal.
The sources requested anonymity since an official announcement has not yet been made.
Harris, who played last season at Virginia, has spent much of this week practicing with the Tigers and is eligible to play immediately.
This is the second season in a row Hardaway has welcomed a newcomer in December. Last year, he brought Nae’Qwan Tomlin in from Kansas State.
A 6-foot, 170-pound native of Washington, D.C., Harris brings a proven veteran presence to the Tigers at a position that could use another option. Guards Tyrese Hunter and PJ Haggerty have each averaged 35-plus minutes per game this season, and both are dealing with nagging knee issues. Shooting guard Colby Rogers has also been pressed into extended minutes (32 per game) so far this season.
Memphis has other backcourt options − sophomore Baraka Okojie and freshman Jared Harris − but Harris brings a well-rounded, battle-tested game to the table that could yield much-needed rest for Hunter, Haggerty and Rogers during AAC play and beyond.
Harris began his career at Georgetown and spent two seasons there, averaging 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 55 career games for former Hoyas coach Patrick Ewing. He shot a career 36.5% from the field (26.8% beyond the arc) at Georgetown. As a freshman in 2021, he earned Big East Tournament MVP honors after averaging 14.2 points and 3.6 assists over the final three games.
After transferring to Virginia in January 2023, he played the 2023-24 season for former Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett. But an ankle injury last November cost him 10 games and kept him from ever truly finding his footing in Charlottesville. He averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds a game in his only season at Virginia.
Harris entered the transfer portal last offseason, only to withdraw from it a month later and return to the Cavaliers. But, according to reports, Harris was taken off scholarship prior to the season and has not played in a game for Ron Sanchez, making him eligible to make the midseason move.
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