Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway added some local flavor to his 2025-26 roster with the commitment of WKU transfer Julius Thedford.

The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard announced his commitment to the Tigers on April 14. Thedford, a Memphis native who has three seasons of eligibility remaining, enjoyed a standout high school career at both Whitehaven and Cordova.

"Got homesick," Thedford posted on Instagram. "Now I’m back and ready to put on for my city! Born in Memphis. Built by Memphis. Memphis made. Legacy driven. 1000% Committed."

This marks the third public commitment from an incoming transfer for the Tigers this offseason. Last week, former Memphis wing Ashton Hardaway announced he was returning after spending a season at Saint Mary's. Earlier this month, Temple guard Quante Berry announced he was headed to Memphis.

Penny Hardaway has at least five scholarships to fill. Three players from the 2024-25 roster — consensus All-American PJ Haggerty, point guard Dante Harris and forward Bouna Kebe (who redshirted this season) — are eligible to return for the 2025-26 season, while incoming freshman Daniel Vieira-Tuck and junior college transfer Felipe Patino are presently verbally committed to Memphis.

In his only season with the Hilltoppers, Thedford averaged 12.4 points and 3.8 rebounds through the team's first 18 games (six starts). But a dislocated kneecap and a torn ligament in a game against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 18 sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Despite the injury-shortened season, Thedford earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors. He shot 42.8% (71-of-166) from the field (including 36.6% at the 3-point line) as a freshman. He scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-high of 19 points against Marshall. He also scored 18 points in a game at Kentucky and 11 apiece in games against Michigan and Wichita State.

"I’d say just from being from Memphis. I mean, you’ve got to just stand up and just be you," Thedford, who was originally a Missouri State signee, told WBKO earlier this year. "Just Memphis dogs, we don’t fear no one. Just keep going."

The deadline for Division I players to enter the transfer portal is April 22. Players who enter after that date would need a waiver to be eligible for competition in 2025-26.

While players can commit to a school at any time, the regular signing period begins April 16 and ends May 21.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected], follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group .