Report: Memphis guard Jaykwon Walton plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

Memphis guard Jaykwon Walton plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported. He previously played at Georgia and Wichita State.

Walton played in 11 games over his two years at Georgia before transferring to Shelton State Community College in Alabama for the 2021-22 season. He then returned to the Division I level at Wichita State and was a key contributor for the Shockers, averaging 13.9 points and 5.3 rebounds across 28 games, including 27 starts.

Walton again entered the portal after that season and initially committed to Alabama. However, he was arrested after being found with marijuana and guns in his vehicle, and Nate Oats announced Walton wouldn’t be joining the Crimson Tide as a result.

He then committed to UCF before ultimately landing at Memphis, where he started 28 of 32 games this past season. He averaged 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Tigers, but will now head back into the portal.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

More on an interesting offseason for Memphis

Walton would be the fifth Memphis player to enter the portal so far this offseason. That group includes Ashton Hardaway, the son of Tigers coach Penny Hardaway who entered the portal April 8. It hasn’t been all subtraction for Memphis, though. Three players committed to the program, including former Tulsa guard PJ Haggerty. He checks in as the No. 5 overall player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings and could help replace some of the production Memphis is preparing to lose.

Former Illinois and Baylor big man Dain Dainja also committed to the Tigers out of the portal this week.

Memphis got off to a hot start to the 2023-24 season, but ultimately finished with a 22-10 overall record and missed out on the NCAA Tournament after an 11-7 record in American Athletic Conference play. After a season-ending loss to Wichita State in the AAC Tournament, Penny Hardaway had a poignant message for the program’s doubters.

“I don’t need any sympathy from anybody,” Hardaway said. “(But) it’s just, it’s funny to me how guys are always talking about how I need to be fired. I’m not resting on anything. I want to be in the NCAA tournament, making it to Final Fours. Everybody has their opinion. They can do whatever they want.

“But I feel like my résumé’s pretty damn good for coaches that have just started.”