Breaking Down Memphis’ Stacked Backcourt Rotation

Gareth Patterson | Credit: AP

By all accounts, Penny Hardaway is building one of the deepest guard rotations in the country for the 2025–26 college basketball season. But with depth comes difficult decisions, and Memphis basketball now faces one of the most compelling challenges of its offseason: how to balance a backcourt that suddenly features more talent than available minutes.

Following the recent commitment of Curtis Givens III—a Memphis native and former LSU Tiger—the Tigers now have a crowded guard room that includes Quante Berry (Temple transfer), Zachary Davis (South Carolina transfer), Julius Thedford (Western Kentucky transfer), Sincere Parker (McNeese State transfer), Dug McDaniel (Kansas State transfer), and Hasan Abdul Hakim (UTRGV transfer), who is listed as a guard but plays more like a hybrid wing.

All of this comes with uncertainty surrounding PJ Haggerty, the Tigers’ leading scorer last season. Haggerty entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, but still has the option to return to Memphis if he withdraws from the draft by May 28. His decision will have a massive impact on how Penny Hardaway finalizes his rotation.

So, how does Memphis plan to make all the pieces fit? Let’s break it all down.

Projected Starting Backcourt

If Haggerty returns, expect him to be slotted back into the starting lineup as the undisputed No. 1 scoring option. But even if he doesn’t, the Tigers have multiple candidates to fill starting roles.

Point Guard – Dug McDaniel

McDaniel, who averaged 11.4 points and 4.9 assists per game at Kansas State last season, projects as the floor general. Despite concerns about his size, he’s one of the most proven playmakers in the portal. If he adjusts to the AAC’s pace and defensive schemes, the starting job is his to lose.

Shooting Guard – Quante Berry

Berry is arguably the most balanced option in the backcourt. He put up 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game at Temple last year while shooting 46.3% from the field. He’s familiar with AAC opponents and already proved he can shine against top competition, averaging 17.5 points in two games vs. Memphis. His versatility and defense give him the edge to start alongside McDaniel.

Top Sixth Man Candidates

Curtis Givens III

Givens is a dynamic scorer and has strong ties to the Memphis area. As a freshman at LSU, his minutes were limited, but his upside remains high. Penny Hardaway has a history of getting the most out of hometown talent. If Givens can handle college speed defensively, he’ll carve out an immediate sixth man role, especially as a secondary ball handler and off-the-bench spark plug.

Sincere Parker

Parker is a scoring machine who averaged over 14 points per game in the Southland Conference and shot 43.7% from the floor in 2024–25. While his defensive limitations may prevent a starting nod, he’s too talented to leave on the bench for long stretches. He could be deployed as a designated scorer in small-ball lineups or when the offense needs a jolt.

Rotation Depth and Versatility

Zachary Davis

At 6-foot-7, Davis gives Memphis a big-bodied guard who can defend multiple positions and rebound. His stats at South Carolina weren’t gaudy, but his length and basketball IQ give him a unique edge among the group. He’s likely to play a valuable glue-guy role off the bench.

Julius Thedford

Thedford, a Memphis native, averaged 12.4 points per game and shot 42.8% from the field at Western Kentucky. His size and experience should help him compete for minutes in a crowded rotation. If Haggerty does not return, Thedford could be in line for a larger offensive role.

Hasan Abdul Hakim

Though technically listed as a guard, Abdul Hakim plays more like a combo wing. His 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game at UTRGV show he can impact the game in multiple ways. If Penny uses him as a small forward or defensive stopper, his minutes may come at the expense of traditional wing players rather than guards.

Felipe Patino: A Sharpshooter with Immediate Floor-Spacer Potential

One of the more intriguing under-the-radar additions to Memphis’ guard rotation is Felipe Patino, a 6-foot-5 JUCO product from Eastern Florida State College. Patino averaged 11.4 points and 4.2 rebounds last season while shooting a blistering 51.1% from beyond the arc — a skill set that could make him a key piece in Penny Hardaway’s system.

Given the number of ball-dominant guards already on the roster, Patino’s off-ball shooting and ability to space the floor could carve out minutes for him, especially if Memphis wants to run more four-out or five-out looks. While he may not be penciled in as a starter, his skill set gives the Tigers a needed specialist — a potential designated shooter off the bench who can change the momentum of a game with timely threes.

Daniel Vieira-Tuck: A Developmental Guard with Athletic Upside

Daniel Vieira-Tuck, a 6-foot-4 guard from Overtime Elite, enters the program as more of a developmental project — but one with real upside. His statistics from OTE (2.2 points in 9.5 minutes per game) may not jump off the page, but the context matters: OTE competition is high-level and often features future NBA talent.

Vieira-Tuck is known for his athleticism, defensive instincts, and flashes of shot-making ability. With a crowded backcourt, he may face an uphill climb for early rotation minutes, but don’t be surprised if he earns a situational role, especially as a defensive stopper or energy guard in specific matchups. If he develops as expected, he could become a rotational fixture by midseason or serve as an insurance piece with long-term value for 2026 and beyond.

The Haggerty Effect

If PJ Haggerty returns, everything changes. Not only would it solidify Memphis’ backcourt as one of the deepest and most dangerous in the nation, but it would also compress the available playing time for newcomers like Givens, Thedford, and Davis.

Haggerty would likely start alongside McDaniel, pushing Berry to a sixth man role and causing a trickle-down effect throughout the rotation. Penny Hardaway has made it clear that the door remains open for Haggerty to return, but until a decision is made, the Tigers must build with multiple scenarios in mind.

Who Could Be the Odd Men Out?

With so many new faces and limited roster spots, someone will be left on the outside looking in. The guard rotation could tighten to six players max during competitive stretches, especially if Memphis improves its frontcourt depth and plays more traditional lineups.

• Givens and Parker could see inconsistent minutes early if they don’t find their niche defensively.
• Davis might become a matchup-specific player, depending on the opponent’s size and personnel.
• Thedford, despite his upside, may find himself battling for a consistent role if his shooting doesn’t translate against higher-level defenses.

Expect Penny to experiment early in the season, using non-conference games to identify which combinations work best and which guards are most effective in clutch situations.

A Good Problem to Have

Having too many talented guards is a luxury most coaches would love. For Memphis, the key lies in embracing versatility, prioritizing defense, and building around players who can co-exist on the floor.

If Haggerty returns and everyone stays healthy, this unit could become the backbone of a team with real NCAA Tournament aspirations once again. Even without him, the Tigers have length, athleticism, and a level of scoring depth that’s hard to match across the AAC.

Penny Hardaway has the pieces—now it’s time to see how he assembles the puzzle.

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