Alabama’s Phenomenal Sixth Man Shocker: Jahvon Quinerly Chooses Memphis as His New Basketball Destination
Jahvon Quinerly, a point guard for Alabama, will play for the Memphis Tigers in his last year of NCAA eligibility. The SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year for 2022–23, Quinerly, chose to transfer public on social media on Thursday. The former PG for the Crimson Tide of Alabama has decided to drop out of the 2023 NBA Draft and return to school. Quinerly back to Tuscaloosa, a move head coach Nate Oats anticipated, is big news for the Crimson Tide.
Oats has been active in the transfer portal this summer, signing guards Aaron Estrada from Hofstra and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. from Cal State Fullerton. Estrada has won the Player of the Year award twice in the CAA, and Wrightsell was named All-Big West last year.
Quinerly said on Sunday that he would leave the Crimson Tide and use the NCAA transfer site. The former five-star recruit from the 2018 recruitment cycle began his career at Villanova before moving to Alabama in 2019. He was projected to play a significant role for the Crimson Tide this season.
Quinerly played for Alabama for the last three seasons after starting at Villanova. He led the Crimson Tide to their second SEC title in three years in 2022–23, averaging 8.8 points per game and ranking ninth in the SEC with 3.6 assists on 40.6% shooting.
Quinerly tore his ACL during the 2022 NCAA Championship and played most of his last season with the Crimson Tide off the bench. Averaging 13.0 points and 3.3 rebounds throughout six postseason games until the Crimson Tide lost to San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, he rehabilitated in time to make it into the starting lineup in 2023.
Jahvon Quinerly’s Heart-Wrenching Departure from Alabama Sends Shockwaves Through College Basketball
Quinerly posted on Instagram on June 25 to first reveal his intention to use the NCAA transfer site. Although choosing to leave Alabama was “difficult,” the former five-star prospect said it was time to “move on, take chances, and follow our hearts.”
He had already proclaimed his intention to remain in Alabama for his last year of collegiate eligibility in a since-deleted photograph posted on June 1. Before withdrawing, Quinerly had already formally declared for the 2023 NBA draft.
Quinerly will represent Memphis under head coach Penny Hardaway. Memphis reversed a seven-year NCAA tournament absence after Hardaway took over ahead to the 2018–19 season, making participation in 2022 and 2023 while also winning the American Athletic Conference championship in 2023.
This postseason performance and five consecutive seasons of 20 wins may be attractive to other NCAA transfers. Through the transfer portal this offseason, Memphis also gained Jordan Brown from Louisiana, David Jones from St. John’s, Teafale Lenard from Middle Tennessee, Nick Jourdain from Temple, Caleb Mills from Florida State, and Jonathan Pierre from Nova Southeastern in addition to Quinerly.
How Jahvon’s Arrival Sets the Memphis Tigers on Fire
Quinerly is the newest Player to join a Tigers club that has undergone a radical transformation. The 6-1 point guard has played for the Crimson Tide for the last four seasons after beginning his career at Villanova. He publicly announced his return to Alabama at the beginning of June. However, less than a month later, the native of New Jersey changed his mind and went via the transfer portal.
Quinerly’s addition puts Memphis in a position to sign at least eight transfers after Quinerly visited the Memphis Tigers‘ campus last week. He is the second student arriving straight from a Power Five institution after Caleb Mills (Florida State). Center Louisiana native Jordan Brown, who pledged to the Tigers on June 27, previously competed for Arizona for one season in the Pac-12. For his entire collegiate career, the Big East has been the home of small forward David Jones (St. John’s, DePaul).
Coach Penny Hardaway and the Tigers are still dealing with two problems. The first is in the frontcourt, where it will be decided whether or not to extend Deandre Williams’ eligibility by one more year. Mikey Williams, a five-star incoming freshman point guard, is involved in the second. However, his availability for the upcoming season is entirely uncertain due to his offseason arrest and ongoing charges.
To be prepared for everything, Memphis Basketball brought in Jahvon Quinerly, a seasoned ballhandler from within the team. He was a former five-star prospect who left Villanova after one season and joined Alabama. He has played as a sixth man and starter over the previous three years, recording a career-high 13.8 ppg and 4.2 APG in 2015.
Quinerly won SEC 6th Man of the Year honors despite his stats from the previous season, which saw him average 8.7 points per game and 3.6 assists per game. His adaptability in both situations is what Memphis needs as it rebuilds its roster. The 6’1 guard has a solid passing ability and a streaky shooting range, hitting 34% of his three-point attempts throughout his career.
Quinerly bridges a considerable gap. Since veteran backup Alex Lomax and All-American point guard Kendric Davis reached the end of their respective eligibility periods in March, Memphis has been staring death in the face. Point guard Jayhlon Young (UCF) was signed by the Tigers in May, but Quinerly is now Memphis’ most reliable option.
No matter what happens with Williams, Memphis has the necessary ballhandler insurance now that Jahvon Quinerly is present. However, assuming both remain, they will have one of the best backcourts in the nation next season. And the Tigers may be the club to beat in the AAC in 2024 if Williams can stay for one more season.
