Memphis basketball's Malcolm Dandridge enters transfer portal
Memphis basketball center Malcolm Dandridge has entered the transfer portal, a source told The Commercial Appeal Wednesday.
The fifth-year senior is the seventh player with eligibility remaining from the 2022-23 season's roster to move on since Memphis' loss to FAU in the NCAA tournament. Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Ian Granja, Jahmar Young Jr., Tadarius Jacobs, Keonte Kennedy and Johnathan Lawson have all previously departed.
Coach Penny Hardaway was active in the transfer portal last month, landing Florida State guard Caleb Mills, MTSU wing Teafale Lenard Jr., Nova Southeastern wing Jonathan Pierre and Temple forward Nick Jourdain. He also landed UCF point guard Jayhlon Young earlier this month. The Tigers also have signed four incoming freshmen: guards Mikey Williams and Carl Cherenfant, and wings JJ Taylor and Ashton Hardaway.
Dandridge's departure leaves Memphis with two open scholarships. Chandler Lawson and Jayden Hardaway are the only scholarship players from the 2022-23 roster expected back for 2023-24.
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Dandridge was the first commitment for Penny Hardaway's first No. 1 recruiting class in 2019, officially announcing his intention to attend Memphis less than two months into Hardaway taking over the program in the spring of 2018.
The former East High standout's Memphis career was significantly marred by injury. In four seasons with his hometown Tigers, Dandridge played in 101 games (14 starts) and averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds a game. Lingering effects of a knee injury that cut short his final season of high school bothered him for much of his first three seasons at Memphis.
Following additional surgery last offseason to help alleviate those issues, Dandridge went down with a high ankle sprain on Dec. 13, 2022, during a loss at Alabama. He sat out the next 15 games before returning Feb. 19 at Houston.
In the final game of Dandridge's Memphis career, things got heated between him and leading scorer Kendric Davis late in a 66-65 loss to FAU in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Davis left the game late in the second half with an ankle injury. During a subsequent timeout, things became heated between Davis and Dandridge, forcing coaches and teammates to separate the two.
"We were just being competitors. Just into the game, like normal," Dandridge said afterward. "That's what we always do."
Hardaway is facing a significant front court overhaul ahead of the 2023-24 season. DeAndre Williams, a 1,000-point scorer and the Tigers' leading rebounder this season, has exhausted his collegiate eligibility. Earlier this month, center Akobundu-Ehiogu announced plans to pursue a professional career.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball's Malcolm Dandridge enters transfer portal
