Memphis Basketball adds 3-point threat PJ Carter to revamped roster

Memphis basketball has signed transfer guard P.J. Carter, multiple sources tell The Commercial Appeal.

The sources requested anonymity as an official announcement has not yet been made.

The 6-foot-2 Carter, whose career began at Campbell (where he played in just 16 games over two seasons) and includes a season at Georgia Highlands College, spent last season at UTSA. On June 17, he signed with Rice. But since he had yet to report to campus, Carter was free to sign elsewhere.

Carter, a fifth-year senior, gives the Tigers a 3-point threat with size — something coach Penny Hardaway has been seeking since last season’s leading scorer, David Jones, retained his name in the NBA Draft this month. past.

The Fairburn, Georgia native (who joined former Tiger Landers Nolley II at Langston Hughes High School) appeared in 31 games for the Roadrunners (10 starts) and averaged 9.5 points and 19.8 minutes per game. Carter contributed 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists, but left his biggest mark on the perimeter.

Carter shot 40.3% from beyond the arc (52 of 129) for UTSA, which was good enough for sixth in the AAC last season and 168th in the country. He hit a season-high six triples in a win over Temple on March 10 en route to a career-high 27 points. He hit five 3-pointers in two other games (against SMU and Charlotte, both on the road).

Last season at Georgia Highlands, Carter made 43% of his 3-point attempts (86 of 200), tied for the 46th best rate in the NJCAA.

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Memphis has rebuilt virtually its entire roster. The only returning scholar from the 2023-24 campaign is Nicholas Jourdain. Although he shot a 40.5% 3-point percentage last season and rookie Colby Rogers made 40.9% of his 3-pointers at Wichita State, the Tigers have been persistent in their search for a traditional wing.

By bringing in Carter, Hardaway gives himself another potential spacing option on offense. Carter also came on strong late for the Roadrunners, averaging 14.7 points per game over the final nine games of the season — a stretch that included three straight wins over North Texas, Temple and SMU for a team that finished with just 11 wins.

Memphis still has at least two scholarships to offer. Most of the team is on campus participating in summer workouts. Freshman guard Daniel Vieira-Tuck is verbally committed to the Tigers but has not yet signed a contract with the program.

Contact 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 the Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Basketball Turns Rice Signee P.J. Carter