PJ Haggerty NIL Transfer Auburn Kansas State
iStockphoto / © Stu Boyd II-The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
PJ Haggerty may or may not play a fourth season of college basketball. The 21-year-old point guard has yet to decide whether he is going to test the NBA Draft waters and turn pro or if he is going to capitalize on the NIL spending spree at a program yet to be determined.
His recruitment through the transfer portal is already wild and it is just the beginning.
Haggerty, a four-star prospect in the college basketball recruiting Class of 2022, committed to TCU out of high school. He played only six games for the Horned Frogs, took a redshirt, and entered the transfer portal. That led him to Tulsa, where the Texas-native averaged 21.2 points per game. His performance on the mid-major level allowed him to transfer back up to Memphis, where he averaged 21.7 points per game last season.
There is no doubt that PJ Haggerty is one of the most prolific players in college basketball but his future remains up in the air. He chose to declare for the NBA Draft and enter the transfer portal in April.
Should Haggerty projected as a first-round pick after his stellar performance at the NBA Draft Combine, he might choose to pursue a professional career. If not, he will return to college.
The deadline for him to decide is set for May 28 and a bidding war will take place if Haggerty does not go pro. Every single program in the country would love to add him to its roster. Only a small number them can afford his price tag.
PJ Haggerty asked for $4 million in NIL money for just one season. It was a lofty request that likely would not be met but it allowed for him to weigh his options after his suitors presented their highest bids.
Ole Miss was in the mix early. A return to Memphis was not out of the equation. However, both schools pretty quickly decided to move on so North Carolina State emerged as the most interested party with the largest financial offer. Haggerty to Raleigh seemed like done deal.
NOT ANYMORE!!
Kansas State jumped into the mix, which started a bidding war. And then the Wolfpack landed a commitment from Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams so they backed out.
Their lack of interest leaves just the Wildcats for Haggerty. Or does it?!
According to trusted Memphis basketball analyst Hitmen Hoops, Auburn is now kicking the tires. The Tigers are “expected to pursue” PJ Haggerty if Tahaad Pettiford stays in the NBA Draft. Bruce Pearl and company would be willing to pay him around the same amount as Kansas State, if not more.
To add another wrinkle to this saga, Haggerty almost committed to Auburn out of high school. There is already familiarity there.
This entire process has been exhausting and it has yet to officially begin. Haggerty still has four days to decide if he is going to play another year of college basketball. A chaotic bidding war is imminent. I would imagine that there will be suitors have not been named. The NIL number could get close to the $4 million asking price when it is all said and done. Buckle up!