Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway added depth to his revamped roster in junior college forward Damarien "Dink" Yates.
The 6-foot-8 Yates prepped at Fayette-Ware, earning Tennessee Class 3A Mr. Basketball honors in 2023, and spent his freshman season at Vincennes (Indiana) University. Yates is expected to join the team as a walk-on.
Yates averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 34 games as a freshman in 2023-24, shooting 43.4% from the field and 30.6% from three for a team that finished 30-4 and reached the second round of the NJCAA Tournament. That showing came on the heels of his senior season at Fayette-Ware, where he averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Memphis has a strong foundation in place for the upcoming season. Hardaway has added a host of Division I transfers, including guards Tyrese Hunter, PJ Haggerty, Colby Rogers and Baraka Okojie, alongside wing PJ Carter and big men Dain Dainja, Moussa Cisse and Tyreek Smith. Guard Jared Harris is the team's lone true freshman signee so far, and forward Nicholas Jourdain is the only scholarship player returning from the 2023-24 season.
MEMPHIS BASKETBALL: Penny Hardaway adds 3-point threat PJ Carter to revamped roster
Memphis still has at least two open scholarships remaining. Guard Daniel Vieira-Tuck remains committed but has still not signed with the Tigers. If Vieira-Tuck is not eventually added to the roster, it would leave Hardaway with three open scholarships.
Yates projects as a versatile bench option whose playing time will come as a small forward or stretch four.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway adds former 3A Mr. Basketball Damarien Yates
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