TIGER BASKETBALL

Memphis basketball walk-on Evin Olds will not return to program

Drew Hill
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis basketball walk-on Evin Olds said Tuesday that he will not return to the team next season.

The guard was a member of the Tigers from 2017-19. 

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway decided to keep Olds as part of the program during his first season, and the sophomore appeared in eight games, scoring one field goal on three attempts. 

Memphis guard Evin Olds is fouled while driving to the basket against UAB last season.

Olds joined the Memphis basketball program as a walk-on under Tubby Smith. He entered with a recommendation from Hardaway, who briefly coached Olds in AAU and knew the guard's father. 

Olds said via text message to The Commercial Appeal on Tuesday that if he returns to the university he will not continue playing for the basketball team. He also said he is considering the possibility of playing for Rhodes College so he can stay in Memphis. 

The Tigers also are expecting the departure of scholarship players Antwann Jones and Victor Enoh. 

NCAA rules allow for 13 scholarship players on a team roster, and 15 players are allowed to suit up for each game. There is no limit to the number of walk-ons a team can take, as some teams have as many as four nonscholarship players and more than 15 total players. 

Olds was joined by redshirt freshman Ryan Boyce as a walk-on last season.

Hardaway said previously that Boyce would move into position for a scholarship beginning his sophomore year, but he wasn't sure of that decision late last month.

“We don’t know yet. We’ll have to talk to his parents. We don’t know yet,” Hardaway said.

Five Tigers players from last season will have graduated by next season. Three players have signed, and one is committed.   

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