MTSU transfer Teafale Lenard Jr. will not join Memphis basketball team
The Memphis basketball team's roster roller coaster ride continues.
MTSU transfer wing Teafale Lenard Jr. will not join the Tigers for the upcoming season, he announced via social media Tuesday. Lenard posted on Instagram he will instead begin his professional career while maintaining his eligibility for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Lenard committed and signed with Memphis in April, but he never reported to campus. The native Texan was, at one point, a projected second-round NBA pick in an early ESPN mock draft. He averaged 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Blue Raiders last season, but he was expected to have a bigger impact defensively. A member of last season's Conference USA All-Defensive Team, Lenard's 61 blocks as a sophomore are the fourth-most in single-season history at MTSU.
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway now has seven transfers either signed or committed (Caleb Mills, Jahvon Quinerly, Jayhlon Young, David Jones, Jonathan Pierre, Nick Jourdain and Jordan Brown). The Tigers have also signed four incoming freshmen — Ashton Hardaway, JJ Taylor, Carl Cherenfant and Mikey Williams. Williams' future with the program is in limbo since he is still facing six felony gun charges. Jayden Hardaway is set to return for his senior season, although he is not expected to be on scholarship.
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All-conference forward DeAndre Williams is seeking an additional season of eligibility, but the NCAA has not yet ruled on the school's request.
The Tigers are scheduled to embark on a summer exhibition tour of the Dominican Republic (Aug. 1-7), playing three games against local pro and club teams in Santo Domingo and La Romana.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MTSU transfer Teafale Lenard Jr. will not join Memphis basketball team
