The 2026-27 Memphis basketball roster is officially set.
Although one formal order of business remains unresolved — Nemanja Popović
is still awaiting the NCAA's official eligibility confirmation, even though he is enrolled in classes and has been a full participant in team workouts and activities since arriving on campus July 3 — the Tigers are still confident it will be cleared up before the season begins.Coach Penny Hardaway took a varied approach to constructing his 15-player roster, which was published on the program's website Sept. 10. It includes:
- Two players returning from last season's roster
- Nine Division I transfers
- Three incoming high school recruits
- One international signee
With practice set to begin Sept. 21, and all the pieces present and accounted for, how did Hardaway do? Here is a player-by-player examination and evaluation of the Tigers' roster, taking into
account skillset, fit and remaining eligibility (including the upcoming season).
Jayden Reid
What he does: A playmaker and a true show-runner, the 5-foot-10 Northwestern transfer is at his best when creating for others. But, he can also create for himself as a multi-level scoring threat.
How he fits: Reid gives the Tigers not only someone with plenty of American Conference experience (he spent two seasons at USF), but he also experienced success there, too.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Two
Overall grade: A
Brandin Cummings
What he does: The junior two-guard is a solid shooter (34.9% from the 3-point line in two seasons at Pitt) who can take over games with his scoring.
How he fits: The Tigers are counting on Cummings (who is coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him for the last three weeks of the 2025-26 season) to put up points. But they also need him to be a standout on defense.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Three
Overall grade: B+
Tylik Weeks
What he does: The 6-7 big guard gets buckets. A fiery-at-times, lead-by-example player, Weeks was the go-to guy at Southern Miss last season, doing the bulk of his damage inside and at the free-throw line.
How he fits: Weeks' scoring (19.7 points per game in the Sun Belt Conference) is plenty valuable. But the Tigers will also need him to consistently rebound and defend. Improvement at the 3-point line would also be a big plus.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Two
Overall grade: B+
Nemanja Popović
What he does: A dominant low-post presence at the professional level in Serbia and Poland the past two seasons, Popović (6-9, 245) could be a double-double threat in the American.
How he fits: Popović gives Memphis a bell cow in the starting frontcourt, either at the four or the five. He is not a shooter (1 of 11 beyond the arc in Poland last season). But his rebounding, rim protection and high motor figure to help make everyone on the floor better.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: TBD
Overall grade: A
Maxim Logue
What he does: Another big-bodied (6-9, 215 pounds) post player, the FAU transfer has some craftiness to his inside game on offense with a demonstrated ability to rebound (despite limited minutes) in the American.
How he fits: While Logue can play and defend multiple positions, he will likely be most effective when he's not the only big man on the floor.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Three
Overall grade: B
Julius Thedford
What he does: A little of everything. One of only two returning players, Thedford (a 6-4 guard) was the team's leading rebounder last season and one of its better defenders.
How he fits: Extremely adept on the putback scoring front, he also provides some floor-stretching opportunities with his 3-point shooting (34.1% on 44 attempts last season). An ideal sixth-man glue guy.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Three
Overall grade: A-
Rihards Vavers
What he does: The 6-7 wing was one of the best spot-up 3-point shooters in the country at Washington State last season. He has also shown to be a competent rebounder and defender.
How he fits: Vavers should be afforded every chance to be the primary 3-ball threat in the league. If he can make good on it, his presence will open up the floor for everyone.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: One
Overall grade: B
Josh Holloway
What he does: The point guard from Memphis can do a little bit of everything — score some, rebound some, distribute some and defend some.
How he fits: Holloway, who knows what it takes to win in college (having been to March Madness twice in three seasons), brings an edge to the Tigers on defense.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Two
Overall grade: B
Luke Almodovar
What he does: The 6-3 Southeast Missouri transfer is as explosive a guard as the Tigers have had since perhaps David Jones (2023-24). But he can also fill it up from three (41.2% over two seasons at NAIA Saint Francis).
How he fits: The upside potential is sky-high with Almodovar, who has been the top scorer for whatever team he's been on over the past four seasons.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Two
Overall grade: A-
Corneilous Williams
What he does: The former LSU player has been one of the best rebounders in the country each of the past two seasons. But he has been particularly productive on the offensive end, ranking 12th in the country in offensive boards per game (3.8) last season.
How he fits: The Tigers were staggeringly bad on the glass last season. If Williams' rebounding translates from North Alabama to Memphis (a big if), he has a chance to stand out.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: One
Overall grade: B-
Cello Jackson
What he does: The 6-4 freshman from Memphis has a well-rounded bag. He scores. He rebounds. He makes plays for others.
How he fits: The backcourt is crowded. But Jackson's intensity and homegrown pedigree makes him an attractive depth piece.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Five
Overall grade: B+
Jerry Deng
What he does: Deng's calling card has been his shooting ability (37.2% on 263 attempts over three seasons in college).
How he fits: You can never have too many shooters. And, at 6-9, the former Florida State and NC State wing provides the Tigers with some length on the perimeter.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Two
Overall grade: B-
William Whorton
What he does: On the court, Whorton is a high-energy, high-flyer and a lob threat on every possession. Off the court, he is a top-notch locker room presence who has experience in Hardaway's system.
How he fits: Perhaps the bounciest player on the team, there is room for Whorton to carve out a role (albeit, likely a limited one) in the frontcourt on this team.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Two
Overall grade: B-
Fred Smith Jr.
What he does: The born-and-raised Memphian does many things well — scoring, rebounding, passing, defending, etc.
How he fits: As a 6-8 freshman, Smith bolsters the Tigers' depth at a variety of positions.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Five
Overall grade: B-
Parker Pounds
What he does: The 6-5 former Briarcrest star made a name for himself as a sharpshooter from the 3-point line (48.7% combined as a junior and senior).
How he fits: As already mentioned, shooting is always in demand. But his opportunities will likely be limited in Year 1.
Seasons of eligibility remaining: Five
Overall grade: C
The final word
The advanced analytics gurus are not at all high on Hardaway's latest roster rebuild. Without taking Popović into account, Bart Torvik's predictive rank for Memphis' roster is No. 111. That certainly counts for something. How much? Well, just last preseason, Torvik had the Tigers' roster ranked 67th. It only finished a whopping 62 spots behind that at No. 129. So, accurate, his projection was not.
Memphis has plainly and objectively done a far better job putting this team together than it did last season. Encouraging. The pieces seem to fit well together. Role definition is apparent, even by the most cursory of glances. Most of the bases seem to have been covered.
Perhaps you'd like a top-end sure thing (like, for instance, a Kendric Davis, David Jones or PJ Haggerty) — especially for how much money ($9 million) spent on this roster. Maybe you'd like a little more continuity. You might wish there was someone (anyone) taller than 6-9.
But, by and large, Hardaway came up with a plan and executed it well. Well enough, we believe, to get the Tigers back on track and back where they belong — the NCAA tournament.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball roster rebuild is complete. Grading Penny Hardaway acquisitions
