Memphis Basketball Loses Center Simon Majok to Transfer Portal

Majok, a 7-1 center, played in 25 games as a true freshman for coach Penny Hardaway.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:48pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented movements of a basketball player, rendered in muted earth tones, conceptually representing the upheaval facing the Memphis Tigers program.The departure of star center Simon Majok leaves the Memphis Tigers with a fractured roster, forcing coach Penny Hardaway to rebuild through the transfer portal.Memphis Today

Memphis basketball center Simon Majok plans to enter the transfer portal, he told The Commercial Appeal on April 3. Majok is one of eight players on the Tigers' 2025-26 roster with eligibility remaining, and he is the fifth one expected to leave via the transfer portal, joining Quante Berry, Curtis Givens III, Ashton Hardaway and Arop Arop.

Why it matters

Majok was an early bright spot for the Tigers, who finished 13-19 last season. His departure is another blow to a Memphis program that is losing several key players and faces an uncertain future under coach Penny Hardaway.

The details

Majok, a 7-1 center from South Sudan, played in 25 games (10 starts) as a true freshman. He averaged 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds through his first seven games, including a 13-point, six-rebound game against New Orleans on Dec. 3, 2025. However, his playing time and productivity dwindled as the season wore on, and he finished with averages of 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

  • The transfer portal opens April 7 and will close April 21.
  • Majok played in the 2025-26 season as a true freshman.

The players

Simon Majok

A 7-1 center from South Sudan who played in 25 games (10 starts) as a true freshman for the Memphis Tigers in the 2025-26 season.

Penny Hardaway

The head coach of the Memphis Tigers basketball team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I wanted to stay. I told both sides, 'I'm staying,' since the beginning. I said, 'I don't want a new coach.' (But) it's not going to work out.”

— Simon Majok, Memphis Basketball Player

“I appreciate everybody here in Memphis. Memphis will always have a special place in my heart. It's gonna be hard. But it is what it is.”

— Simon Majok, Memphis Basketball Player

What’s next

Majok will officially enter the transfer portal when it opens on April 7, and he will have until April 21 to decide on his next destination.

The takeaway

Majok's departure is a significant loss for the Memphis Tigers, who are already facing a roster overhaul with several key players leaving the program. The team will need to quickly rebuild and find replacements for the departing players in order to remain competitive in the upcoming season.