Tigers’ Watkins aiming for repeat of high school success
Kylan Watkins didn’t expect to stay home and play for Memphis.
After 4,705 all-purpose yards, 59 touchdowns and a Class 6A state title in his last two seasons at Whitehaven, the best option for Watkins was UT Martin.
Watkins didn’t play his freshman season, so he decided to transfer and move up from the FCS. Suddenly, home went from one of several options to the only one that made sense.
“I always went to every Memphis game in my high school career,” Watkins said. “My mom went here. My parents are big fans. It was ideal for me to go here.”
“I want some of these games to be hard,” Hardaway said, “because I want to see what we do in adverse situations. As physical as we can play, (as physical as) the refs will allow us (to be), we want to push that to the limit every possession.”
Players are a little less enthusiastic about the prospect of being put to the test in paradise.
“As a player, I mean, I would love to blow a lot of teams out,” said Lance Thomas, a sophomore post player who was ineligible last season after transferring from Louisville. “But you learn a whole lot more from games where you face adversity. So, in the big scheme of things, yeah, (Hardaway is) right.”
Sophomore guard Alex Lomax said unequivocally the plan is to win in blowout fashion.
“But we are still going to be prepared for tough games,” he said. “Games that will make us who we (will be). Games that will bring us closer together.”
The Tigers are allowed 10 full practices leading up to the first game in the Bahamas. Those practices began last week.
The only player Hardaway said would definitely not be available to play next week is Malcolm Dandridge. The former East High standout spent the first 15 minutes of Tuesday’s practice on a stationary bike, along with James Wiseman, Ryan Boyce and Isaiah Maurice.
“We know Malcolm is out,” Hardaway said. “Right now, everything else is just little knick-knacks.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.