The mystery shrouding Jordan Brown and JJ Taylor and their status with the Memphis basketball program lingers.

Coach Penny Hardaway — whose 15th-ranked Tigers (13-2, 2-0 AAC) won their eighth straight Sunday, beating SMU at FedExForum 62-59 — addressed the players' continued absences after the game.

"Jordan Brown is still a part of the basketball program until I hear otherwise," he said. "As far as JJ Taylor — JJ Taylor right now is just still suspended. Waiting on him to finish his suspension."

Brown, a 6-foot-10 center, has not played in a game for Memphis since the Dec. 2 loss at Ole Miss. The former Louisiana star also has not practiced with the team and has not been present for any team activities in weeks. Senior point guard Jahvon Quinerly told The Commercial Appeal last month that Brown was his roommate when the season began. But now, he said, newcomer Nae'Qwan Tomlin is Quinerly's roommate.

When Brown missed the first few games after the Ole Miss loss, Hardaway said it was because he was sick. But he has not mentioned that as the reason why Brown is still absent.

Brown started five games at center for Memphis and appeared in seven. But he struggled, averaging 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds, and his playing time began to decrease.

Hardaway was asked Sunday if he expects Brown to eventually return.

"That I don't know," he said.

Taylor, a true freshman, was suspended prior to the Vanderbilt game on Dec. 23 for violating team rules, Hardaway said last month. He has missed a total of four games since then. On Saturday, Dushawn Davis (who lists himself as an NBA development coach on his social media accounts) took to Instagram, tagging Taylor and Mikey Williams in a post captioned: "Young lions are working!"

Williams, who signed with Memphis in November 2022, has still not joined the program. The high-profile guard is still facing one felony charge (making criminal threats) stemming from a shooting that took place outside his California home in March 2023.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball's Penny Hardaway on Jordan Brown, JJ Taylor status