Hardaway with a smashing display
Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway had every reason to smile and feel loose at the 901 FC match against Nashville SC at Autozone Park Wednesday.
He playfully strummed a guitar before kickoff — the same one he smashed in one swing minutes later as part of the soccer club’s pre-game tradition. And he got the Bluff City Mafia, the club’s supporters section, fired up during its cheers before the game with Nashville SC.
The mood was fitting coming off a week where Hardaway and his staff attended Peach Jam and got extra love from rapper Drake, who wore a Memphis T-shirt on a trip to the dentist.
“I loved it,” Hardaway said. “I actually sent him a message, told him that I loved the shirt and hopefully he continues to support.”
Hardaway shouted out Drake immediately on Twitter and then the next day, the Memphis basketball account tweeted a picture of Hardaway wearing the same shirt.
Was it strategic given that Drake has family in Memphis? “I would say so,” said Hardaway. The exchange came as Hardaway basked in returning to Peach Jam — the summer’s biggest AAU tournament — after signing the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.
Players such as five-star class of 2020 recruits Jalen Green and Jaden Springer talked about what they loved from Hardaway, assistant coach Mike Miller and the Tigers staff. Chet Holmgren, a 7-footer and the sixth-rated player in 2021, according to the 247Sports Composite, noticed the staff’s heavy presence watching him and other top recruits.
That’s exactly how Hardaway wants it.
“When we took over, me and my staff definitely had that in mind,” Hardaway said. “(We’re) trying to be in topics of conversation to all of these kids around the country. And we’re happy about that.”
He added that this year at Peach Jam felt less stressful than last year when his staff was rushing to im
press potential targets and prove it could recruit immediately. Now? He believes Memphis is firmly entrenched in the minds of recruits.
“This year we’re a little more stable coming off the No. 1 recruiting class in the country,” Hardaway said. “That gives us more clout with the kids that are out there looking to make a decision.”
He’s also trying to recruit Tiger Woods to play in the WGC-FEDEX St. Jude Invitational, which is next week in Memphis. Hardaway lived near Woods he began playing on the PGA Tour.
Woods has not announced his decision and the deadline is Friday.
“I’ll try to give him my pitch to get him here. I don’t know about this year but hopefully before he retires he comes here,” Hardaway said.
You can reach Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_b) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com