Missing on Jalen Green last week left a major need on the perimeter, one that Memphis answered and in a major way on Monday. Landers Nolley, one of the top transfers this spring and a freshman standout out of Virginia Tech, committed to the Tigers.
“They have a great coach (Penny Hardaway). He is really a great guy,” Nolley told Rivals.com. “I mean, the support and plan I see from him and the coaching staff, I just wanted a chance to be a part of it.”
Nolley choses the Tigers over Georgia and Ole Miss. A former top-50 prospect and member of the 2018 graduating class, he sat out his freshman season due to academic concerns before starting all but three of the 32 games that he played in last season. He averaged 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and over two made 3-pointers per game throughout his freshman campaign.
The lure of Penny Hardaway was a major selling point with Nolley. “He was everything I wanted to be,” Nolley said about his future head coach. “Growing up, watching his film and now he getting a chance to be coached by him, I mean, it’s a dream come true because he was that guy!”
If the one-time transfer rule is not passed next month, there is a strong chance that Nolley will push for a waiver to play immediately in the fall. If so, the 6-foot-7 small forward should contribute right from the get-go thanks to his shot making skills, positional versatility and toughness. Nolley, DJ Jeffries and Lester Quinones give the Tigers a strong core of wings and make for a group that can fight again for an AAC title next season.
