Texas transfer Tyrese Hunter commits to Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway
Texas transfer Tyrese Hunter has given his commitment to Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway, as the seventh-year coach continues stocking up on backcourt players.
The 6-foot guard and Wisconsin native spent the past two seasons playing for the Longhorns. Before that, he spent one season at Iowa State, giving Hunter two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Hunter becomes the fourth transfer to pledge to Hardaway this offseason, joining guards PJ Haggerty and Colby Rogers, as well as big man Dain Dainja. Memphis will also welcome incoming freshman guard Jared Harris.
Hardaway is working to rebuild a roster depleted by expired eligibility, players entering the transfer portal and leading scorer David Jones declaring for the NBA Draft. Forward Nicholas Jourdain and walk-on guards Joe Cooper and Noah Stansbury could return. Jones could also be back since he elected not to sign with an agent, therefore maintaining his collegiate eligibility.
Hunter began his official visit to Memphis on April 19. The Tigers also recently hosted George Mason transfer guard Baraka Okojie on an official visit.
Hunter is no stranger to Memphis or Hardaway. In 2021, he scored 20 points at the Iverson Classic (held at Bartlett High School) and was honored as his team's MVP. Later that year, he scored nine points with five assists, three steals and three rebounds in Iowa State's win over the Tigers at the NIT Season Tip-Off event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
A hard-nosed competitor and dogged defender, Hunter adds an array of elements Hardaway didn't have enough of on last season's roster, which finished 22-10 and missed the NCAA tournament. Hunter was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year at Iowa State after averaging 11.0 points, 4.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
In his two seasons at Texas, Hunter scored 10.7 points per game to go along with 3.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds a game. He also had 75 steals in 71 career games.
Last season, he finished with career-bests in field goal percentage (45.2%) and 3-point percentage (37.2%).
Hunter is also a proven winner. The Cyclones reached the Sweet 16 in his only season with them, while the Longhorns got to the Elite Eight in 2023 and made it to the Round of 32 in 2024. In nine career March Madness games, Hunter has a 44.5% field goal percentage and 15 steals.
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The regular signing period is open and runs through May 15 but players are still eligible to sign after that. There are more than 1,000 names still in the transfer portal with more being added every day. The last day a player can enter the portal and still be eligible for the 2024-25 season is May 1, but players do not have to commit or sign by that date.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Texas' Tyrese Hunter commits to Memphis basketball's Penny Hardaway
