University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Bolster Frontcourt with Addition of 6-foot-11 Thierno Sylla
Aug 18, 2025 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The University of Memphis men's basketball program has added veteran frontcourt depth with the signing of 6-foot-11 center Thierno Sylla, who joins the Tigers for the 2025-26 season.
Sylla arrives in Memphis after spending the 2024-25 campaign at Stephen F. Austin, where he appeared in 25 games and averaged 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in just under 10 minutes per contest. Despite coming off the bench for most of the season, he delivered productive minutes in the frontcourt and showed he could stretch the floor, shooting 29.2 percent from three for his career.
Prior to his time at Stephen F. Austin, Sylla played two seasons at UCF and gained experience both as a starter and a reserve.
During the 2023-24 season, he appeared in 32 games and made 10 starts while averaging 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, including a 20-point, 11-rebound performance against Jacksonville. As a freshman in 2022-23, Sylla made 27 appearances for the Knights and shot 36.4 percent from three-point range.
A native of Conakry, Guinea — the same hometown as former Memphis center Moussa Cissé — he adds international experience and valuable depth to the Tigers' frontcourt.
Sylla is the 14th player Hardaway has signed to the 2025 recruiting class, joining Daniel Vieira-Tuck (Overtime Elite), Quante Berry (Temple), Dug McDaniel (Kansas State), Aaron Bradshaw (Ohio State), Julius Thedford (Western Kentucky), Ashton Hardaway (Saint Mary's), Zachary Davis (South Carolina), Sincere Parker (McNeese State), Hasan Abdul Hakim (UTRGV), Mason Matthews (Lane College), Curtis Givens III (LSU), William Whorton (South Dakota State) and Simon Majokn (KK Real Beograd).
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Sylla arrives in Memphis after spending the 2024-25 campaign at Stephen F. Austin, where he appeared in 25 games and averaged 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in just under 10 minutes per contest. Despite coming off the bench for most of the season, he delivered productive minutes in the frontcourt and showed he could stretch the floor, shooting 29.2 percent from three for his career.
Prior to his time at Stephen F. Austin, Sylla played two seasons at UCF and gained experience both as a starter and a reserve.
During the 2023-24 season, he appeared in 32 games and made 10 starts while averaging 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, including a 20-point, 11-rebound performance against Jacksonville. As a freshman in 2022-23, Sylla made 27 appearances for the Knights and shot 36.4 percent from three-point range.
A native of Conakry, Guinea — the same hometown as former Memphis center Moussa Cissé — he adds international experience and valuable depth to the Tigers' frontcourt.
Sylla is the 14th player Hardaway has signed to the 2025 recruiting class, joining Daniel Vieira-Tuck (Overtime Elite), Quante Berry (Temple), Dug McDaniel (Kansas State), Aaron Bradshaw (Ohio State), Julius Thedford (Western Kentucky), Ashton Hardaway (Saint Mary's), Zachary Davis (South Carolina), Sincere Parker (McNeese State), Hasan Abdul Hakim (UTRGV), Mason Matthews (Lane College), Curtis Givens III (LSU), William Whorton (South Dakota State) and Simon Majokn (KK Real Beograd).
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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