Harris to leave, transfer to USF
Tyler Harris is staying in the American Athletic Conference.
The former Memphis basketball guard announced his commitment to South Florida on social media Sunday. Now a two-time transfer, Harris graduated from Memphis — where he played his freshman, sophomore and senior seasons— on Sunday, making him eligible to play immediately for the Bulls in 2022-23.
Harris is the second Tigers transfer this offseason to make the move to another team within Memphis’ league. Last month, guard Landers Nolley II committed to Cincinnati.
Since the Tigers’ season ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, seven players have entered the transfer portal and five have found new homes. Guard Earl Timberlake is headed to Bryant. Wing John Camden is off to Virginia Tech. Center Sam Onu is now with Florida Gulf Coast. Wing Emoni Bates reva mains uncommitted. Wing Josh Minott, who also declared for the NBA Draft, is concentrating on remaining in the draft. Center Jalen Duren, a projected lottery pick, is also bound for the NBA after a big freshman season.
Lester Quinones and Deandre Williams are also testing the draft waters but neither player entered the transfer portal prior to the May 1 deadline. Quinones announced recently that he will return to Memphis if he decides to withdraw from draft consideration.
Harris, who spent the 2020-21 season at Iowa State, returned to Memphis for his senior year and accepted a walk-on role. Upon entering the transfer portal, Harris took to Twitter to reveal it was not his decision to leave Memphis a second time.
“In life there are several choices and decisions you have to make, this one was not (mine),” Harris tweeted in April. “But many doors close for a reason.”
A fan-favorite, the former Cordostar finished sixth on the team in scoring (8.8 points per game), 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 also helped solidify his place in the Memphis record books. He leaves the Tigers with the fifth-most 3-pointers 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%.
Memphis has taken to the transfer portal to help replenish its roster, landing guards Kendric Davis (the reigning AAC Player of the Year) and Elijah Mccadden (the reigning Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year).
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.