TAMPA, FL — Memphis basketball's long wait for the NCAA to formally declare Serbian big man Nemanja Popović eligible continues.
But, at American Conference media day on Oct. 12, coach Penny Hardaway provided the strongest sign of hope yet in the saga that began when the 24-year-old international prospect gave his commitment in June.
Hardaway conceded that Memphis is still waiting on the official confirmation of Popović's eligibility status from the NCAA, then expressed steadfast confidence in what he believes will be the eventual outcome.
"He will play," Hardaway told The Commercial Appeal.
The 6-foot-9 center has been enrolled in classes and participating in all team activities since reporting to campus on July 3.
But the ticking of the proverbial
clock is getting louder by the day as the season approaches. The Tigers are set to face Jacksonville State in a closed scrimmage on Oct. 18, before traveling to Mississippi State (Oct. 23) and Arkansas (Oct. 28) for open exhibition games. The regular season opener against Iowa State (Nov. 2)
After beginning his professional overseas career in 2019, Popović enjoyed the finest season of his career while playing for King Wilki Morskie Szczecin (the King Szczecin Sea Wolves) of the Polish Basketball League (PLK) last season. He averaged 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in 27 games, earning first-team All-PLK honors in the process.
Popović landed on Hardaway's radar after the Tigers came up short in their pursuit of another Serbian big man (Andrija Vuković, now at George Washington). The countrymen share an agent, according to Hardaway, who turned Memphis on to Popović. Hardaway watched film and liked what he saw enough to reach out to former Tiger Malcolm Dandridge, who was Popović's backup in Poland.
"I called Malcolm, (and) he gave me the OK. He said, 'This is a guy you want,' " Hardaway said. "And (assistant coach) Sean Mock did a phenomenal job dealing with the agent. He and (senior associate AD for compliance) Sean Tuttle, communicating with the agent."
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Penny Hardaway confident Nemanja Popović 'will play' for Memphis basketball | Exclusive
