Letter alleges more NCAA violations against Penny Hardaway as tumult surrounding Memphis basketball increases

The University of Memphis acknowledged Wednesday to Sports Illustrated that it has handed over a letter to the NCAA from an anonymous author that alleges multiple rules violations within the men's basketball program. Among the allegations are that head coach Penny Hardaway paid to secure the commitments of two players between 2020 and 2022.

While college basketball players are allowed to be compensated for use of their name, image and likeness -- and soon through direct revenue-sharing with their schools -- the allegations against Hardaway fall outside the bounds of what's permissible under NCAA rules.

Specifically, it's alleged in the letter, which has been reviewed by CBS Sports, that Hardaway "initiated" a $30,000 payment to the prep school coach of a now-former player in order to secure the player's commitment in 2020. The letter's writer also claimed that Hardaway paid $60,000 for another player's commitment in 2022, even though that player never ultimately suited up for the Tigers.

Also included in the letter are allegations about the scope of academic misconduct within the program. The program's academic advisor was fired in February, just as veteran center Malcolm Dandridge was suspended for potential academic misconduct.

Memphis, which has been operating under new athletic director Ed Scott since July, self-reported the issue with Dandridge to the NCAA, according to the Commercial Appeal. But in the letter, it's alleged that four players were involved in the alleged academic malfeasance through a scheme where others would be paid to complete assignments for the players.

The university's acknowledgement of the letter came just hours after Hardaway announced the departures of four staff members. Among the fired assistants was former Mississippi State and Western Kentucky coach Rick Stansbury, who served as the program's lead assistant last season.

While former longtime Division I head coach Mike Davis has joined the staff as an assistant, the September shakeup leaves Hardaway with vacancies to fill less than two months before the beginning of his seventh season.

Hardaway, 53, has posted a 133-62 (69-36 AAC) record and has never won fewer than 20 games since taking over before the 2018-19 season. But the legendary former Memphis and NBA star has reached just two NCAA Tournaments and won only one game in the Big Dance, all while overseeing a program beset with chaos.

His tenure was first mired in scandal during the 2019-20 season, when former five-star prospect James Wiseman was suspended for 12 games because of alleged recruiting inducements. Memphis initially fought back against the NCAA's action by playing Wiseman in defiance of the suspension. But Wiseman ultimately sat out following three appearances and never played another game for the Tigers.

Nonetheless, Wiseman's case hung over the program for nearly three years before it was adjudicated through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) in 2022 with what amounted to a slap on the wrist.

Though Hardaway dodged major penalties in that case, he was suspended for the first three games of the 2023-24 season in a separate NCAA infractions case related to impermissible recruiting visits. The NCAA deemed the infractions, which occurred during the 2021-22 season, to be Level II violations.

Now, with the self-reported academic issue and other potential violations that are alleged in the anonymous letter, Hardaway is back under the NCAA's microscope at a time when frustration has mounted with the program's middling results and seemingly wayward direction.

Beyond the NCAA issues, there has been constant staff and roster turnover that has far exceeded the normal levels of attrition experienced within most Division I programs not undergoing head coaching changes.

As the number of players and coaches to cycle through the program increased, so have the on-court errors. Memphis began the 2023-24 season 15-2 and rose as high as No. 10 in the AP poll before a late-season collapse crushed its chances of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers won a first-round NCAA Tournament game over No. 8 seed Boise State in 2022 but were ousted by No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the following round. That stands as the program's high-water mark under Hardaway, as the Tigers lost a heartbreaker to No. 9 seed FAU in the first round the following year.