I would rather use C or C++ because memory management and speed can be improved based on how well you code than if you use Java and I want to think of this project as training to build good habits like ways to make the game run faster, with less lag, etc.

There is no reason to not use java for a tiled 2D game based on the idea that a Java implementation will exhibit "lag" but a C++ implementation will not.
 
If you want to write in C++ then write in C++ but don't delude yourself into thinking you are doing so for performance reasons. Beginners more or less will never see the speed difference between C++ and Java. If you write a Java game and it runs slowly, it is probably because you wrote it poorly not because of the language you chose. Likewise, C++ will not magically make a game run fast; in fact, if written poorly it will run really slow i.e. nothing is slower than crashing.
 

I am already familiar with C and I think C++ should be simple to pick up (just syntax differences I'm sure)

The difference between C and C++ is not a difference in syntax. They are radically different languages. If you treat C++ as C with some syntax differences you will write bad C++.
 

The reason I want to make it from scratch is because this will provide a greater learning experience than using something that already has thousands of libraries built into it

So you want to use C++ but not use libraries? ... Beginners tend to have a warped view of what making something "from scratch" means.

I would rather use C or C++ because memory management and speed can be improved based on how well you code than if you use Java and I want to think of this project as training to build good habits like ways to make the game run faster, with less lag, etc.

There is no reason to not use java for a tiled 2D game based on the idea that a Java implementation will exhibit "lag" but a C++ implementation will not.

 

If you want to write in C++ then write in C++ but don't delude yourself into thinking you are doing so performance reasons. Beginners more or less will never see the speed difference between C++ and Java. If you write a Java game and it runs slowly, it is probably because you wrote it poorly not because of the language you chose. Likewise, C++ will not magically make a game run fast; in fact, if written poorly it will run really slow i.e. nothing is slower than crashing.

 

I am already familiar with C and I think C++ should be simple to pick up (just syntax differences I'm sure)

The difference between C and C++ is not a difference in syntax. They are radically different languages. If you treat C++ as C with some syntax differences you will write bad C++.

 

The reason I want to make it from scratch is because this will provide a greater learning experience than using something that already has thousands of libraries built into it

So you want to use C++ but not use libraries? ... Beginners tend to have a warped view of what making something "from scratch" means.