Why Memphis basketball's Malcolm Dandridge 'needed a break' and how he came back a new man

Malcolm Dandridge spent precisely 107 days in the transfer portal.

“It was probably fun for maybe eight hours,” the Memphis basketball senior said at AAC media day in Dallas last week.

The rest of that span filled Dandridge with anxiety. But it wasn’t supposed to be that way. The 6-foot-9 center from Memphis, who played for Penny Hardaway at East High and has spent the past four seasons playing for him with the Tigers, was already drained. Years of persistent injuries took their toll — physically, mentally and emotionally.

“I needed a break,” he said.

Despite his stressful summer, Dandridge found a way to reset. Since returning to the team full time, he has turned over a new leaf, impressing those within the program and the outsiders who have had a chance to see him. Sporting a slimmed-down physique and a beefed-up positivity, Dandridge is opening eyes.

“Malco, being completely healthy, he’s one of those guys who’s been doing some things I haven’t seen them do before,” Hardaway said. “We’re trying to make him more offensive-minded. The shots he’s taking and making now are different, so I’m glad to see that.”

Malcolm Dandridge's turbulent times

Dandridge was the first recruit to commit to Memphis after Hardaway was hired in 2018. The former four-star prospect has appeared in more than 100 games so far. But significant playing time and consistent production have not been easy to come by. He has made just 14 starts and put up modest career numbers (4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game).

As much as Dandridge’s injury history has hampered him, his image has also taken hits. In March 2022, some fans were vocal after the Tigers’ NCAA tournament loss to Gonzaga about a perceived lack of hustle on his part late in the game.

Then, during the 2023 NCAA tournament, a tense moment with former teammate Kendric Davis that turned physical was caught by national television cameras. During a timeout late in the first-round upset loss to FAU, Dandridge appeared to lightly shove Davis, whose back was turned. Coaches and staff members quickly intervened, and it did not escalate.

“It was two competitors wanting to win the game at the right time that spilled over into something that was at the wrong time,” Hardaway said last week.

Dandridge admits he felt the heat from some fans who were vocal in their disappointment. But in a nod to the power of reinvention, he doesn’t sweat it anymore.

“I mean, I’m cool with the misconceptions and the confusion. That’s the least of my worries,” he said. “Because the people who know me know what kind of heart I have. What kind of person I am. I love Kendric. I love all my teammates I’ve played with. So, even if people want to play and act confused, like they don’t understand that, it’s never personal with me.”

No regrets for Malcolm Dandridge

In the aftermath of last season’s early ending, Dandridge said something snapped for him.

Having been in the same situation for four seasons, the gregarious competitor felt like he owed it to himself to explore other opportunities for what will be his final season of collegiate eligibility.

“That was my whole thing this summer (no ‘what ifs’),” he said. “You just want to make sure you do everything as right by yourself as you possibly can.”

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After entering the transfer portal, Dandridge heard from numerous schools. St. Louis and Gonzaga are the ones he mentions specifically. Tulsa also reached out. He reportedly was also in talks with Western Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia.

He wondered whether he wanted to be part of Hardaway’s near-total rebuild. In the end, Hardaway convinced Dandridge to return. “’We can do this,’” Hardaway told his longtime pupil. But not without conditions.

“(I told him) we have to be committed fully, 100 percent to what we’re gonna do — as a leader, as a player,” Hardaway said. “To be locked in for the entire season.”

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

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Memphis basketball's Malcolm Dandridge 'needed a break' and came back