St. John's grad transfer David Jones commits to Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway

St. John's graduate transfer David Jones gave his commitment to Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway Monday, a source confirmed to The Commercial Appeal.

The 6-foot-6 senior forward's pledge is the Tigers' first in more than a month. The program had to fend off the likes of Kentucky, Xavier, UConn, Kansas State and others to land the Dominican Republic native.

Jones could provide a significant boost for Memphis in the frontcourt. Jones is not exactly the prototypical center − a position of need for Hardaway. But he is a highly skilled rebounder. Last season, Jones' 6.8 rebounds per game was the seventh-best mark in the Big East. The season before, his second at DePaul, he finished 10th in the Big East with a 7.4 rebounding average. Only one Memphis player (DeAndre Williams, 8.2) averaged more than 4.5 rebounds per game in 2022-23.

Adding Jones leaves the Tigers with one open scholarship at present. Five-star combo guard Mikey Williams' status remains uncertain. He is facing six felony gun charges stemming from a March shooting outside his California home. He has pleaded not guilty, and his preliminary hearing is set for June 29. If Williams does not eventually join the Tigers, it would make a second open scholarship available.

MEMPHIS BASKETBALL:The NCAA case that could be the key to DeAndre Williams returning to Tigers

SIGN UP:Memphis Tigers Basketball Insider text group with Jason Munz

Eight players reported to Memphis last week: returners Jayden Hardaway and Chandler Lawson, transfers Caleb Mills, Jonathan Pierre and Nick Jourdain, and incoming freshmen Ashton Hardaway, Carl Cherenfant and JJ Taylor.

Transfers Teafale Lenard Jr. and Jayhlon Young are expected to arrive in Memphis in June or July. Young's signing has not yet been announced by the program.

Jones also packs a scoring punch. He averaged 13.2 points per game in his lone season at St. John's, good enough for 18th in the Big East. He played in 31 games and made 17 starts last season. He scored in double figures in all but six games. Jones also averaged 14.5 points per game as a sophomore at DePaul.

As productive as Jones was last season with the Red Storm, his efficiency was substandard. Jones shot just 39.2% from the field, which included a 29.4% success rate at the 3-point line.

In 2021-22 at DePaul, though, Jones shot 44.5% from the field (29.2% beyond the arc).

The Tigers open the 2023-24 season on Nov. 6 at home against Jackson State.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.