Nae’Qwan Tomlin has been officially granted permission to join the Memphis basketball team, as reported by The Commercial Appeal on Friday, according to a spokesperson from the athletic department.
Tomlin, who transferred from Kansas State to the Tigers on Dec. 19, has been declared eligible to participate in games immediately. Penny Hardaway’s team, currently holding a record of 9-2, is scheduled to compete against Vanderbilt (4-7) on Saturday at FedExForum, with the event set to be broadcast on CBS at 3 p.m. CT.
In a recent interview, Hardaway provided insights into the value Tomlin, a midseason transfer and former standout with the Wildcats, will bring to the team. “He can guard 1 through 5,” Hardaway commented. “He’s a rim protector. He’s an unbelievable rebounder. And then on the flip side of it, he’s a playmaker. He’s a rim runner. He gets out and flies. He can make plays, and he can shoot. So, for me, you just put him out there, let him get his feet wet, and then we (will) just work around him.”
Tomlin, who is currently in his last season of eligibility, was involved in an incident related to disorderly conduct stemming from a bar altercation in Manhattan, Kansas. Consequently, he was subjected to an indefinite suspension and was subsequently dismissed by Kansas State, prompting his transfer.
The case against Tomlin was resolved through diversion, under the condition that he completes community service, attends a course on alcohol and drug information, and abstains from alcohol consumption for a year. It is expected that charges will be dismissed once these requirements are fulfilled.
Earlier this week, Hardaway hinted at the possibility of gradually integrating Tomlin into the team. “Because he plays doesn’t mean he has to play 20 or 30 minutes,” said Hardaway. “Even if it’s just to get his feet wet, a couple minutes, just to get that energy. He hasn’t played a game in a while. I’m gonna go off his flow. I’m not rushing him out there. If he says he’s not ready Saturday, he won’t play Saturday. If he’s like, ‘Give me another week,’ we’ll give him another week.”
Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Tomlin gained national prominence during his sole season at Kansas State. Hailing from Harlem, New York, he averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 36 games for the Wildcats. During the team’s run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, he averaged 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks.
Tomlin’s basketball journey began at Monroe Community College in New York, where he redshirted in 2018-19 before notably averaging 13.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game the following season. He subsequently spent the next two seasons at Chipola College in Florida, achieving averages of 13.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his sophomore year.
For more information, please contact sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected] or follow @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.