On Tuesday, May 27, Gary Parrish and Bennett discussed the breaking news from the weekend that Shooting Guard PJ Haggerty is officially transferring from the Memphis Tigers and will be joining the Kansas State Wildcats.
Why PJ Haggerty Made the Decision to Transfer?
Haggerty was a key contributor to the Tigers. However, when he entered the transfer portal on April 17, he mentioned wanting an NIL deal worth $4 million or more from his next team. After signing with Kansas State University, the question has been whether he got what he wanted regarding finances.
Watch this video explanation for more insight into Haggerty’s reasons for leaving Memphis.
Ordinarily, and as is widely known, Kansas State University would not have been able to offer Haggerty that much money. Also, NCAA insiders have stated that Kansas State did not offer Haggerty that amount when signing him. Hence, the question is: Why did he choose to sign with the Wildcats?
According to Gary Parrish, Memphis used to be a team where players rarely left because they differed from other teams in their league. However, in recent times, there has been a significant decline in fan engagement with the team. He stated about Memphis:
“In this past year, they didn’t have people show up at their games”
Gary also put himself in Haggerty’s shoes and guessed his thoughts:
“I love Penny, loved my time in Memphis. But I have an opportunity to play in the big 12, in sold out arenas every night, against quality competition every night, be on big stages every week, on Monday nights, as opposed to what, playing nothing but mid major opponents from January through march, in little arenas, in front of nobody, on Sunday Afternoons game on ESPN2 opposite the NFL”
Obviously, there is more competition at Kansas State than at Memphis, and Haggerty wants to capitalize on the opportunity to play on a team that competes against top-tier programs. Playing at a competitive school like Kansas State will also boost Haggerty’s chances of being drafted by the NBA.
Although his pay at Kansas State is less than what Memphis was offering, and he practically left money on the table, his goal is simple: he wants to join a team playing in the Big 12 tournament and gain big-game experience before entering the NBA draft.
How Haggerty’s Transfer Will Affect Memphis
Haggerty was a significant player for the Memphis Tigers, averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He shot 47.6 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three-point range, and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line. He also started all 35 games that the team played and averaged 36.6 minutes per game.
The Tigers’ Head Coach, Penny Hardaway, will feel the impact of Haggerty’s transfer. To show how much he valued Haggerty, he left the door open for his return earlier in the year when Haggerty had not finalized his signing with Kansas State.
Because Haggerty was a skilled and consensus All-American player, Hardaway will now have to restructure the team’s roster and recruit new talent. There will be a significant void in the team’s core.
KEEP READING: PJ Haggerty, Milos Uzan and More: Ranking the 10 Biggest 2025 NBA Draft Withdrawals
Another challenge will be attracting equally talented players. Haggerty’s transfer to a team that offered less pay does not reflect well on Memphis’s program and may reduce the team’s appeal to future recruits.
Aside from the controversy surrounding Haggerty’s reasons for transferring, his move will most likely create a big opportunity for Kansas State. Everyone is waiting to see whether this decision will turn out to be the biggest of his career.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
