Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway has added Lane College forward Mason Matthews to the 2025-26 roster, the program announced May 13.
The 6-foot-8 senior from Maumelle, Arkansas, becomes the 11th newcomer the Tigers have welcomed since the offseason began in March. Matthews joins Dug McDaniel, Sincere Parker, Zachary Davis, Julius Thedford, Quante Berry, Daniel Vieira-Tuck, Felipe Patino, Ashton Hardaway, Hasan Abdul-Hakim, and Aaron Bradshaw.
Whether potential holdovers PJ Haggerty, Dain Dainja or Dante Harris are back with the Tigers in 2025-26 is uncertain.
Memphis is also hosting LSU transfer point guard Curtis Givens III on an official visit May 13.
Matthews has taken a circuitous route to get to Memphis. He began his career at Tyler (Texas) Junior College, then spent two seasons at Southwest Tennessee Community College (Memphis). After a brief stint at Clark Atlanta University, Matthews spent the 2024-25 season at Lane College, where he was coached by Harold Rayford.
Matthews averaged 11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the Dragons. He shot better than 50% from the field and a blistering 43.6% (48-of-110) from the 3-point line.
Matthews’ best game came against LeMoyne-Owen, when he scored 24 points on 9-of-9 shooting (including 6 for 6 beyond the arc).
Rayford, who also coached Auburn standout Denver Jones at Tennessee Prep, told The Commercial Appeal that Matthews and Jones are the two best shooters he has ever coached.
“A true player comparison, I would have to go with Duncan Robinson with the Miami Heat,” Rayford said. “He’s a legit 6-8. He’s a knockdown shooter. He gets it off the catch, he can create his own shot. The city’s gonna love Mason.”
In his second season at Southwest, Matthews averaged 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds, while shooting 41% (55-of-134) from 3-point land.
Hardaway has at least one open scholarship remaining. But 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.
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.
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