Memphis basketball is set to host LSU transfer point guard − and Bluff City native − Curtis Givens III on an official visit beginning May 13, his father confirmed to The Commercial Appeal.
The news comes as Tigers coach Penny Hardaway has nearly completed his latest offseason roster overhaul. Memphis has already signed 10 newcomers (seven of which are guards) and the program is expected to bring back point guard Dante Harris for the 2025-26 season.
That leaves Hardaway with at least two open scholarships and the futures of All-American guard PJ Haggerty and all-conference big man Dain Dainja still apparently in limbo. The college basketball scholarship limit is expected to increase (to 15) once the House v. NCAA settlement is officially approved, which would create two more openings for the Tigers.
Givens (6-foot-3) played in all 32 games (12 starts) as a true freshman at LSU in 2024-25. He averaged 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 18.2 minutes per game, while shooting 26.9% from the field, 24.6% at 3-point land and 59.1% from the free throw line.
On April 28, Memphis announced the signing of point guard Dug McDaniel. Subsequently, the program announced the signings of several other backcourt players, including Sincere Parker, Zachary Davis, Julius Thedford, Quante Berry, Daniel Vieira-Tuck and Felipe Patino. The rest of the incoming transfer class includes wings Ashton Hardaway and Hasan Abdul-Hakim, as well as big man Aaron Bradshaw.
This is not Givens’ first go-round with the Tigers. The former Memphis University School standout (who spent his junior and senior seasons at Montverde Academy) also visited Memphis in September 2023.
It was then that Givens’ father, Curtis Givens II, told The Commercial Appeal he appreciated how Hardaway approached the recruitment.
“He told Curtis, if he chooses to go somewhere else, he’ll still support him. That means a lot,” the elder Givens said.
Less than two weeks later, Givens committed to LSU during a well-attended ceremony at Big Bill’s Bar-Be-Que in East Memphis − a restaurant founded by his father − that was livestreamed by On3. Minutes after the announcement, LSU coach Matt McMahon arrived to congratulate Givens.
Givens has reportedly drawn interest from Maryland, Ole Miss, Villanova, Texas A&M and more since entering the transfer portal. He also took a visit to Miami on May 6.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group.
