Ashton Hardaway's Circuitous Route: Navigating the NCAA Transfer Portal and Returning to Memphis
Ashton Hardaway's basketball journey has been anything but linear. From his initial commitment to playing for his father, Penny Hardaway, at Memphis, to a stint at Saint Mary's, and now a planned return to the Tigers, his story highlights the complexities of the NCAA transfer portal and the evolving landscape of college basketball.
Early Career and Transfer to Saint Mary's
Hardaway, a 6-foot-8 forward, was a three-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon in California, where he notably played alongside Bronny James. He was ranked 92nd on the ESPN 100 in the Class of 2023. He initially joined his father at Memphis for the 2023-24 season. During his true freshman season at Memphis, Hardaway appeared in 30 games, starting in three of those matchups. At Memphis, Hardaway’s best game of the season came against Michigan on Nov. 22 when he erupted for a season-high 17 points while shooting 5-7 from 3-point range. It was the only game during his true freshman season when Hardaway scored double figures.
However, after one season with the Tigers, Hardaway entered the NCAA transfer portal and landed at Saint Mary's. He spent one season at Saint Mary’s, where he helped lead the Gaels to a West Coast Conference championship and a 29-6 overall record. This also included a trip to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7-seed, where they would end their season in the Round of 32 against No. 2-seed Alabama after staving off No. He appeared in 33 of those games for Saint Mary’s. He played in 33 games for the Gaels, averaging 9.6 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.2 rebounds a game, and shot 31% (on 13-of-42 shooting) from the 3-point line. He did not score in double figures at Saint Mary’s but did score a season-high nine points during a win against Santa Clara on Feb. 11.
The Allure of Memphis and a Second Chance
Despite a successful season with Saint Mary's, Hardaway announced his return to Memphis for the 2025-26 season via social media. This marks the third time a player has left the Tigers, only to eventually come back. Guard Tyler Harris began his career at Memphis, transferred to Iowa State and returned to Memphis for one season before leaving to finish his collegiate career at South Florida. Center Moussa Cisse, who began at Memphis, transferred to Oklahoma State for two years, moved to Ole Miss for one, then came back for his senior season in 2024-25.
Several factors likely contributed to Hardaway's decision. Playing for his father likely has its share of pros and cons. Nevertheless, there’s a certain comfort level and understanding that they’ll have with one another that he probably can’t get elsewhere. Furthermore, after the season the Tigers just had, they’re a much more attractive destination. Not only did they win seven more games than they did in 2023-24, they went 16-2 in their conference, winning the AAC regular season championship and AAC tournament title. In his first season at Memphis, Hardaway averaged 2.3 points a game and connected on 33.3% of his 3-point attempts. Hardaway made a nice splash early on during his first go-round at Memphis, scoring 17 points (hitting five 3-pointers) in a win over Michigan at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. But he never scored more than eight points in another game with the Tigers. The California native's highest-scoring game at Saint Mary's came in a Jan. 29 win at Santa Clara, when he finished with nine points.
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While at Saint Mary's, he logged 315 minutes (9.5 per game). That being said, it’s possible that minutes open up for Hardaway. And of course Dain Dainja, if NCAA grants him an extra year of eligibility via waiver. It’s also worth noting that he won’t be behind players like David Jones and Nae’Qwan Tomlin again, both trying his hand at the NBA. In 2023-24, Jones played 32.3 minutes per game.
Roster Changes and New Additions for Memphis
Hardaway's return comes amidst significant roster changes for the Tigers. After the 2024-25 season concluded, Memphis lost most of its 15-man roster to transfers, graduation and expired eligibility. Penny Hardaway has at least six scholarships to fill. Three players from the 2024-25 roster - consensus All-American PJ Haggerty, point guard Dante Harris and forward Bouna Kebe (who redshirted this season) - are eligible to return for the 2025-26 season, while incoming freshman Daniel Vieira-Tuck and junior college transfer Felipe Patino are presently verbally committed to Memphis.
The Tigers have been active in the transfer portal, adding several key players. One incoming transfer with plug-and-play potential is former Kansas State point guard Dug McDaniel. The junior averaged 11.4 points, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals last season. Hardaway also reloaded his backcourt with a trio of shooting guards. Perhaps the most game-ready is Quante Berry, a 6-foot-4 junior who averaged 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals last season at Temple. The Tigers also landed former Cordova High School standout Julius Thedford. As a freshman at Western Kentucky, the 6-4 wing averaged 12.4 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 36.6% from 3-point range. Coming out of high school, 247Sports rated him the No. Former McNeese State shooter Sincere Parker adds more depth to the backcourt. The 6-3 guard averaged 12.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game last season. In the frontcourt, former five-star recruit and 2023 Naismith High School Player of the Year finalist Aaron Bradshaw headlines the additions. The 7-foot transfer from Ohio State averaged 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 16.9 minutes last season. Former South Carolina forward Zachary Davis will also compete for minutes.
The Evolving Landscape of College Basketball and the Transfer Portal
Ashton Hardaway's journey exemplifies the increasing fluidity of college basketball rosters due to the NCAA transfer portal. The deadline for Division I players to enter the transfer portal is April 22. As of Wednesday, March 26, over 1,250 Men’s College Basketball players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.
The portal allows players to seek opportunities for more playing time, a better fit with a program, or simply a change of scenery. This has led to a significant increase in player movement, with teams often rebuilding their rosters on an annual basis.
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Challenges and Opportunities
The constant roster churn presents both challenges and opportunities for coaches and players. Coaches must adapt to integrating new players quickly and building team chemistry in a short amount of time. Players, on the other hand, have the opportunity to find the best fit for their skills and aspirations.
However, the transfer portal also raises concerns about player loyalty, academic stability, and the potential for programs to stockpile talent. Some players, like Haggerty, meanwhile, has reportedly complicated his transfer process by seeking a $4 million NIL (name, image and likeness) deal from his next team.
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