The Commercial Appeal

Former Cordova star Harris is returning to Memphis

- Jason Munz

Tyler Harris is coming home.

A little more than a year after leaving for Iowa State, following two seasons with Memphis , the former Cordova star guard will rejoin the Tigers. Last season with the Cyclones, he scored 7.5 points a game and was one of just two to play in all 24 games. In three seasons, Harris has never missed a game.

"God's plan. Let's get it Tiger Nation #GTG," he wrote on Twitter on Monday with a graphic of himself in a Memphis uniform.

Harris is the latest addition to a roster that coach Penny Hardaway has largely reconstruc­ted following a string of departures. Since winning the National Invitation Tournament, Memphis has signed transfer Earl Timberlake, as well as incoming freshmen Josh Minott, John Camden and Sam Onu. Last week, Oregon transfer Chandler Lawson and top 100 Class of 2021 recruit Johnathan Lawson verbally committed to the Tigers.

Hampton transfer Davion Warren, who was listed among the group of signees announced by the school last week, officially reopened his Monday.

Since Harris has already transferre­d

once, he will need a waiver to be eligible to play in 2021-22.

Harris' return was met with excitement from several of his former teammates.

"Missed you my dawg," tweeted Alex Lomax.

"Run it back brudda. Missed you," Lester Quinones posted on Twitter.

"Yessir my boy," Chandler Lawson tweeted.

Once the Lawsons officially sign, Memphis could have one open scholarshi­p, depending on whether Harris is listed as a walk-on or not. That could also change if Moussa Cisse, who is testing the NBA Draft waters, stays in the draft. If he does, it will create a second open scholarshi­p.

In his first season at Memphis, Harris was instantly impactful. The 5-foot-9 Harris set a record for most made 3pointers by a freshman in school history with 79 during the 2018-19 season, which is still the fifth-most for the Tigers. Harris is a career 33% 3-pont shooter.

While Iowa State struggled last season, finishing 2-22, many of Harris' better showings were against the Cyclones' toughest competitio­n. He scored a season-high 22 points against national champion Baylor, 18 points against Oklahoma State and 15 against West Virginia.

In two seasons at Memphis, Harris averaged 9.9 points and 1.9 assists a game.

Memphis, coming off a season where it shot just 61.7% from the line, will also welcome Harris' free-throw shooting success. He led the Tigers there in both seasons with the team and is a career 84.4% free-throw shooter.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercial­appeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

 ?? JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL ?? Memphis Tigers guard Tyler Harris probes the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defense during their game at the Donald Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. on Jan. 22, 2020.
JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Memphis Tigers guard Tyler Harris probes the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defense during their game at the Donald Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. on Jan. 22, 2020.

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