Latest news with #Dainja
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Memphis' Penny Hardaway Dealt Transfer Portal News on Thursday
After losing 78-70 in the opening round of the men's NCAA Tournament to Colorado State, the Memphis Tigers' immediate future is looking murky. They're losing some key players to the transfer portal, including star point guard PJ Haggerty, who averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game this past season. He will now become a player who will be greatly sought after by other schools. Advertisement Memphis and its head coach, Penny Hardaway, the former NBA All-Star, are also poised to lose center Dain Dainja. Dainja has reportedly also entered the transfer portal after making some impressive strides during the 2024-25 campaign. Dainja stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 271 pounds, and he put up 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals a game while shooting 61.5% from the field this past season. He came on strong late in the season, and he had 22 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in that March Madness loss to Colorado State. Before that, his 23 points and 11 boards helped the Tigers get past Tulane 78-77 in the American Athletic Conference title game. Memphis' head coach Penny Hardaway during the game between UNC and Memphis in the Hoops for St. Jude Tip-Off Classic at FedExForum.© Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Prior to last season, Dainja spent two years at Illinois after his freshman year of college basketball came at Baylor. Advertisement If he maintains his eligibility for next season, perhaps he can take another step forward and make himself into a legitimate prospect for the NBA draft. While he's undersized, height-wise, for the center position in the NBA, he can defend the low post well and has a promising set of offensive skills. Related: Houston's Kelvin Sampson Gets Major Roster News on Thursday
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Memphis basketball's Dain Dainja refutes transfer portal reports: 'Not going anywhere'
Memphis basketball's Dain Dainja refutes transfer portal reports: 'Not going anywhere' First, Memphis basketball got hit with the news that consensus All-America guard PJ Haggerty was entering the transfer portal, potentially bringing an end to his Tigers career after just one season. Then, widespread reports surfaced that unanimous first-team all-conference big man Dain Dainja − despite currently being out of eligibility to compete at the college level − was also planning to enter the portal. But in less than an hour, Dainja refuted those reports. "Not going anywhere. No decisions have been made," Dainja posted on X the afternoon of April 17. Dainja, whose career began at Baylor and continued at Illinois before spending this season at Memphis, is pursuing a waiver in hopes of playing another season. There is no guarantee the NCAA will grant his request. Dainja struggled with consistency early in 2024-25, but came on strong late, playing like one of the best big men in the country. He averaged 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds a game as a senior. Haggerty's move does not constitute finality with regard to his association with Penny Hardaway's Tigers. Haggerty could decide to withdraw and return to Memphis. But the prospect of losing him (and his 21.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game) is a sobering one for a program coming of its best season in more than a decade. Only guard Dante Harris and forward Bouna Kebe (who redshirted this season) are players from the 2024-25 roster with eligibility remaining who have not entered the transfer portal. Hardaway has made headway in his efforts to rebuild his roster yet again. In April, he has secured commitments from transfers Quante Berry, Julius "King" Thedford, Ashton Hardaway and Zachary Davis. Memphis has also hosted official visits for Ohio State power forward Aaron Bradshaw, Villanova guard Kris Parker and McNeese State guard Sincere Parker in the past three days. Reach sports writer Jason Munz at follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group.
Fox Sports
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
PJ Haggerty, Dain Dainja and No. 16 Memphis win AAC tourney with a 84-72 win over UAB
Associated Press FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — PJ Haggerty scored 23 points, Dain Dainja had another double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds and 16th-ranked Memphis won the American Athletic Conference tournament with an 84-72 win over UAB on Sunday. Haggerty put the Tigers (29-5) ahead to stay with his tiebreaking bankshot with 16:10 left. The AAC player of the year later had a 17-second span when he drove the baseline for another shot off the glass, then had a steal that led to his fastbreak ending with a three-point play. Memphis was already a lock to make the NCAA Tournament for the 29th time, and the third time in the past four seasons for seventh-year coach Penny Hardaway, who as a player for the Tigers was part of the 1992 and 1993 tournaments. Yaxel Lendeborg had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Blazers (22-12), last year's AAC tournament champion who had to win the game that ended less than a half-hour before the Selection Show to get back to the NCAA Tournament. Efrem Johnson had 17 points. Lendeborg's 23rd double-double matched Stanford's Maxime Raynaud for the most this season. Dainja had his fifth double-double in eight games. Colby Rogers added 15 points for Memphis and Moussa Cisse had 14 rebounds. It was a battle inside all day between 6-foot-9 standouts Lendeborg and Dainja. Lendeborg was trying to make a shot early in the second half and took a slap to the face when both of the big men were in the air. The foul was reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant foul. After Lendeborg's two free throws tied the game at 39-all with 16:54 left, the Blazers maintained possession and Alejandro Vasquez made a go-ahead layup. That was their last lead. Dainja then had the tying layup before Haggerty put Memphis ahead. Missing points Memphis played without its top two point guards. Starter Tyrese Hunter got hurt in the second half of Saturday's semifinal win over Tulane and was on the bench with a boot on his left foot. Dante Harris hasn't played since suffering a high ankle sprain March 4. Their status for the NCAA Tournament was uncertain. Baraka Okojie, a sophomore transfer from George Mason, got his first start with the Tigers and opened the game with a 3-pointer on his only shot of the game. Takeaways UAB: The Blazers have won at least 22 games in each of coach Andy Kennedy's five seasons at his alma mater. Memphis: The Tigers, AAC regular-season champions for the first time, won the tournament for the second time in three seasons. Farewell to Fort Worth The AAC tournament ended a five-year run at Dickies Arena, where it was first supposed to be played in 2020 before being canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league hopes to announce its next site before this year's NCAA Final Four. The finalists are home cities of AAC members: Memphis, Tennessee; Wichita, Kansas; Birmingham, Alabama; and Tampa, Florida. Up next Memphis takes an eight-game winning streak into the NCAA, and UAB likely will play in a different postseason tournament. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and recommended
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PJ Haggerty, Dain Dainja and No. 16 Memphis win AAC tourney with a 84-72 win over UAB
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — PJ Haggerty scored 23 points, Dain Dainja had another double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds and 16th-ranked Memphis won the American Athletic Conference tournament with an 84-72 win over UAB on Sunday. Haggerty put the Tigers (29-5) ahead to stay with his tiebreaking bankshot with 16:10 left. The AAC player of the year later had a 17-second span when he drove the baseline for another shot off the glass, then had a steal that led to his fastbreak ending with a three-point play. Memphis was already a lock to make the NCAA Tournament for the 29th time, and the third time in the past four seasons for seventh-year coach Penny Hardaway, who as a player for the Tigers was part of the 1992 and 1993 tournaments. Yaxel Lendeborg had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Blazers (22-12), last year's AAC tournament champion who had to win the game that ended less than a half-hour before the Selection Show to get back to the NCAA Tournament. Efrem Johnson had 17 points. Lendeborg's 23rd double-double matched Stanford's Maxime Raynaud for the most this season. Dainja had his fifth double-double in eight games. Colby Rogers added 15 points for Memphis and Moussa Cisse had 14 rebounds. It was a battle inside all day between 6-foot-9 standouts Lendeborg and Dainja. Lendeborg was trying to make a shot early in the second half and took a slap to the face when both of the big men were in the air. The foul was reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant foul. After Lendeborg's two free throws tied the game at 39-all with 16:54 left, the Blazers maintained possession and Alejandro Vasquez made a go-ahead layup. That was their last lead. Dainja then had the tying layup before Haggerty put Memphis ahead. Missing points Memphis played without its top two point guards. Starter Tyrese Hunter got hurt in the second half of Saturday's semifinal win over Tulane and was on the bench with a boot on his left foot. Dante Harris hasn't played since suffering a high ankle sprain March 4. Their status for the NCAA Tournament was uncertain. Baraka Okojie, a sophomore transfer from George Mason, got his first start with the Tigers and opened the game with a 3-pointer on his only shot of the game. Takeaways UAB: The Blazers have won at least 22 games in each of coach Andy Kennedy's five seasons at his alma mater. Memphis: The Tigers, AAC regular-season champions for the first time, won the tournament for the second time in three seasons. Farewell to Fort Worth The AAC tournament ended a five-year run at Dickies Arena, where it was first supposed to be played in 2020 before being canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league hopes to announce its next site before this year's NCAA Final Four. The finalists are home cities of AAC members: Memphis, Tennessee; Wichita, Kansas; Birmingham, Alabama; and Tampa, Florida. Up next Memphis takes an eight-game winning streak into the NCAA, and UAB likely will play in a different postseason tournament. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and
NBC Sports
26-01-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Haggerty and Dainja lead No. 24 Memphis to a 100-77 victory over UAB
PJ Haggerty scored 23 points, Dain Dainja had a season-high 21 points and eight rebounds and No. 24 Memphis shot 62% in a 100-77 victory over UAB on Sunday. Dainja was 10 of 12 from the field before fouling out as Memphis (16-4, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) won its third straight game and seventh in its last eight. Efrem Johnson led the Blazers (12-8, 5-2) with 21 points. Bradley Ezewiro finished with 19, while Yaxel Lendeborg had 18 points and 10 rebounds. The game pitted two of the three teams in the American standings and the top two picks in preseason polls, with UAB voted first to win the conference and Memphis second. Memphis used inside-out scoring to take a 52-39 halftime lead with Dainja scoring 16 points and Haggerty adding 13. Johnson kept the Blazers in the game with 17 points, including 5 of 7 from outside the arc. Takeaways UAB: The Blazers, who usually take care of the ball, committed 16 turnovers leading to 32 Memphis points. Memphis: The Tigers minimized turnovers (13) and scored inside with Dainja, who moved into the starting lineup. Key moment Memphis already had a double-digit lead at the break, then opened the second half with a 12-6 run by connecting on five straight shots. Key stat Memphis used its inside game to build its first-half lead, holding a 34-10 advantage in the paint. It finished with a 54-30 advantage. Up next The Blazers travel to Tulsa on Wednesday. The Tigers play at Tulane on Thursday.
