Penny Hardaway Lands 6-foot-11 Transfer Forward Arop Arop
Aug 29, 2025 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis head men's basketball coach Penny Hardaway has officially announced the signing of forward Arop Arop, a 6-foot-11, 180-pound transfer from Columbia University to the Tigers' 2025-26 roster.
Arop (pronounced Uh-rope) joins Memphis with two seasons of eligibility remaining and becomes the 15th newcomer added by Hardaway and his staff this offseason, finalizing the Tigers' roster heading into the upcoming campaign.
The Dallas native, whose parents emigrated to the United States from South Sudan in 2000, appeared in 16 games across two seasons at Columbia. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.4 rebounds while shooting 52.6 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from three-point range.
Before Columbia, Arop starred at Chisolm Trail High School (Fort Worth, Texas), where he scored more than 1,200 career points, earned first-team all-district honors and was recognized as an academic all-state selection. He also spent a postgraduate year at The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville, Conn.), averaging 10 points and six rebounds per contest.
With Arop's addition, Memphis bolsters a deep frontcourt that now features Aaron Bradshaw (7-1), Simon Majok (7-0), William Whorton (6-8) and recent signee Thierno Sylla (6-11).
Out of prep school, Arop received offers from several high-major programs, including Vanderbilt, Miami, Stanford and UCF, before ultimately choosing Columbia.
Arop is the latest in a string of new additions for Hardaway's program, as the Tigers look to blend a highly talented roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Arop is the 15th 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) and William Whorton (South Dakota State), Simon Majok (KK Real Beograd) and Thierno Sylla (Stephen F. Austin).
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.
Arop (pronounced Uh-rope) joins Memphis with two seasons of eligibility remaining and becomes the 15th newcomer added by Hardaway and his staff this offseason, finalizing the Tigers' roster heading into the upcoming campaign.
The Dallas native, whose parents emigrated to the United States from South Sudan in 2000, appeared in 16 games across two seasons at Columbia. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.4 rebounds while shooting 52.6 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from three-point range.
Before Columbia, Arop starred at Chisolm Trail High School (Fort Worth, Texas), where he scored more than 1,200 career points, earned first-team all-district honors and was recognized as an academic all-state selection. He also spent a postgraduate year at The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville, Conn.), averaging 10 points and six rebounds per contest.
With Arop's addition, Memphis bolsters a deep frontcourt that now features Aaron Bradshaw (7-1), Simon Majok (7-0), William Whorton (6-8) and recent signee Thierno Sylla (6-11).
Out of prep school, Arop received offers from several high-major programs, including Vanderbilt, Miami, Stanford and UCF, before ultimately choosing Columbia.
Arop is the latest in a string of new additions for Hardaway's program, as the Tigers look to blend a highly talented roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Arop is the 15th 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) and William Whorton (South Dakota State), Simon Majok (KK Real Beograd) and Thierno Sylla (Stephen F. Austin).
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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