Memphis’ Harris is back in the transfer portal
Tyler Harris is leaving Memphis basketball again.
The senior shooting guard, who played the first two seasons of his career with the Tigers, transferred to Iowa State and transferred back to Memphis for the 2021-22 season, is back in the transfer portal.
This time, however, it wasn’t his decision.
“In life there are several choices and decisions you have to make, this one was not (mine),” Harris tweeted Saturday morning. “But many doors close for a reason.”
Harris becomes the fifth Memphis player to enter the transfer portal this offseason, joining Landers Nolley II, Earl Timberlake, John Camden and Sam Onu. Additionally, Josh Minott declared for the NBA Draft and does not intend to return to the Tigers. Lester Quinones and Deandre Williams have also each announced their intentions to test the NBA Draft waters, while maintaining their collegiate eligibility, and have not ruled out the possibility of returning to Memphis.
Following his junior season at Iowa State, Harris accepted a walk-on role from coach Penny Hardaway to return to the Tigers. During a season in which he was one of just three players to see action in all 33 games, Harris stepped up in a big way.
A fan-favorite, Harris finished sixth on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg), but he led the Tigers in scoring eight times — more than any other player on the team last season. Harris also led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (39.3%), among players with more than 30 attempts, and topped all Tigers with an 89.5% free throw percentage.
Harris’ work in those areas last season also helped solidify his place in the Memphis basketball record books. He leaves the Tigers with the fifth-most 3pointers all-time at 192 (behind only Rodney Carney, Anthony Rice, Chris Crawford and Doneal Mack). Harris also established a new school record for career free throw percentage at 86.1%.
In one of Harris’ best performances last season, he scored a season-high 24 points in a come-from-behind 83-81 win at Tulsa. That victory snapped Memphis’ three-game losing streak and sparked the team’s 13-3 run to close the season, which ended with the Tigers’ first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
In Memphis’ first-round NCAA Tournament win over Boise State, Harris scored two points. In the Tigers’ loss to No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga, Harris led the team in scoring with 13 points and put up three assists.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.