The transfer portal is officially closed in college basketball. While the deadline to submit the paperwork has passed, as long as it was submitted before midnight, players can still announce their decision to transfer afterward. The portal is chaotic right now, with several seniors anxiously waiting for the NCAA settlement to be finalized, leaving them stuck in the portal with no eligibility remaining.
However, there are others in the portal with eligibility left. In fact, the most sought-after player currently is Memphis’ PJ Haggerty. Haggerty entered the portal and, from the start, has been requesting a hefty NIL deal as well as a commitment to play point guard.
“Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty’s camp is asking for $4 million-plus and for him to spend the majority of his time at point guard,” Jeff Goodman posted.
Since Haggerty entered the portal so late, he's finding it challenging to secure a team willing to meet his steep demands.
“A lot of these bigger names are saying 'no way' to PJ Haggerty's asking price of $4 million-plus. And timing is everything here. A lot of schools don’t have that amount left to offer,” Goodman wrote.
Had Haggerty entered the portal earlier, Kentucky might have swooped in, as $4 million would be pocket change to them these days. Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway broke his silence on Haggerty, leaving the door open for a potential return to the university.
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“I don’t think there was any disrespect to our university at all. PJ and I and his father have a great relationship. I think that he’s really, fully focusing on the NBA… He didn’t close the door on us,” Hardaway said.
The head coach would love to have Haggerty back. If he can't find the right NIL deal, a return to Memphis is certainly on the table. Haggerty, the defending AAC Tournament MVP, would be a welcome addition back to the Tigers.