The coveted Memphis star guard PJ Haggerty entered the transfer portal in April. And he did not do it quietly, either. The 6’3″ redshirt sophomore just ended his season with the Tigers. And now he is one of the most sought-after names in college basketball’s wild west of transfers.
After averaging 21.7 points per game and helping Memphis win both the ACC regular-season and tournament titles, the AAC Player of the Year and second-team All-American is now up for recruitment. But despite all the buzz, Haggerty’s big-money expectations might just be turning this fairytale ride into a bit of a waiting game.
PJ Haggerty’s Future at Memphis Might Hinge on This One Factor
With the dawn of the NIL era, all collegiate athletes want to get paid. And paid well. The same goes for Haggerty. But Haggerty is reportedly looking for around $4 million in NIL deals. Hoops insider Adam Zagoria has made some interesting revelations about the same.
Zagoria shared on X, “Auburn is not involved for Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty and has not spoken to him, per source. K-State remains the main school involved, although sources confirm he’s seeking around $4M in NIL. A return to Memphis would ‘only’ get him about $1.2M.” That is a huge bump.
Auburn is not involved for Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty and has not spoken to him, per source
K-State remains the main school involved although sources confirm he’s seeking around $4M in NIL
A return to Memphis would ‘only’ get him about $1.2M, per sources. pic.twitter.com/Z1Bx70OCUB
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 24, 2025
In fact, it is almost a 300% raise that Haggerty’s after. And no doubt, Haggerty’s earned his stripes. But not every program’s ready to break the bank just yet. Even with Kansas State chomping at the bit to land him, there’s hesitation.
They’ve already built a strong portal class this offseason with six new faces, including Mid-American Conference POY Nate Johnson. But missing the NCAA Tournament two years in a row stings. And Haggerty might be their golden ticket back to relevance. But things seem to be falling apart for Haggerty with each passing day.
NC State was once seen as Haggerty’s most likely landing spot. That was before they swooped in and recruited Darrion Williams. The moment that deal went through, Haggerty’s window in Raleigh quietly closed.
And no doubt, Haggerty’s high NIL demand made it even tougher. His $4M is a hefty ask, and while his game speaks for itself, schools are looking at the whole package. Now the clock is ticking, and Haggerty’s camp has been playing the long game in the portal, hoping for a massive NIL offer.
But the longer he waits, the fewer chairs are left in this musical game of transfers.
While it is true that Haggerty tested the NBA Draft waters with a decent showing at the Combine in Chicago, he seems to be leaning towards another year in college if the price is right.
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Right now, Kansas State seems like the last serious bidder standing. But unless Haggerty drops that $4M number closer to earth, even the Wildcats might have to pass. That brings him back to Memphis, a place where he already starred, already won, and already had a $1.2M NIL setup waiting.
At the end of the day, Haggerty’s next move might come down to how badly he wants the bag versus how badly he wants to play.
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