MEMPHIS, Tenn — Memphis Tigers head basketball coach Penny Hardaway will have a new tool to utilize when the Tigers play Vanderbilt. Kansas State transfer Nae'Qwan Tomlin is expected to make his Memphis debut on Saturday.
Tomlin, a 6'10" center, has been cleared by university compliance and should suit up for Memphis for the first time. He watched from the bench as Memphis beat Virginia on Tuesday, 77-54, and was in the stands during Memphis' 79-77 win last Saturday.
Tomlin averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in 2022 for Kansas State. He has not played a game this year after serving an indefinite suspension to begin the season for the Wildcats, before being dismissed.
Hardaway plans to ease Tomlin into the fold. A heavy workload is not expected in Tomlin's first game.
"Just because he plays doesn't mean he plays 20, 30 minutes," Hardaway told reporters after the Virginia win. "Even if it's just to get his feet wet, just to get that energy he hasn't played a game in a while. I'm going to go off his flow. I'm not rushing him out there. If he says he's not ready Saturday, he won't play Saturday."
Memphis (9-2) won three straight games against ranked opponents. Tomlin will join a front court that has played well with Malcolm Dandridge averaging 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds and Nicholas Jourdain adding 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds. Both players have provided energy and hustle plays which Tomlin should specialize in as well.
Chemistry may be something to watch early on, as the Tigers try to integrate the midseason transfer. So far, Tomlin's teammates just seem to be excited that he is joining the team. He participated in the Tigers toy drive on Saturday, giving toys to children in the Memphis area.
"He's a great addition. He can run, jump, shoot it. There's nothing he can't do," said guard Jayhlon Young. "He's perfect. He's just like (Jahvon Quinerly). You know they're up north kids so they act just alike. But nah, he's going to fit well with us."
Tip off against Vanderbilt, Saturday, is 3:00pm. The game can be watched on CBS.