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Rayjon Tucker to stay in NBA draft weeks after committing to Memphis

Arkansas-Little Rock v Nevada

RENO, NV - NOVEMBER 16: Rayjon Tucker #3 of the Arkansas Little Rock Trojans looks for an opening in the Nevada Wolf Pack defense to pass the ball at Lawlor Events Center on November 16, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)

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Penny Hardaway may very well be building a monster at Memphis, but the construction lost one of its bigger pieces Wednesday.

Rayjon Tucker, a graduate transfer from Little Rock who committed to Memphis earlier this month, will remain in the NBA draft rather than join the Tigers, according to Jon Rothstein.

The 6-foot-5 Tucker was one of the top transfers on the market after averaging 20.5 points per game as a junior, and he looked like the experienced piece to Hardaway’s talented-but-youthful roster that will have major expectations next season. Instead, he’ll likely try to be a second-round pick and make his way from the G-League next season.

It’s a blow to Memphis, but Penny and the Tigers still have one of the best recruiting classes in the country, led by No. 1-ranked James Wiseman, so the expectations are still going to be into the stratosphere without Tucker. Maybe even a little too high, according to our Rob Dauster, who slots Memphis as a loser in his early entry scorecard.