Bartlett guard Knox commits to Memphis program
Bartlett's Amarr Knox rang in the new year with a bang.
The 6-foot-3 point guard, who picked up an offer from the Tigers in December 2020, gave his verbal commitment to the Memphis basketball program. Knox is the second Class of 2022 prospect to pledge to coach Penny Hardaway, joining 4-star Kimball (Texas) point guard – and Memphis native – Arterio Morris.
Knox, unranked by 247Sports, took to Twitter to make his commitment public.
"I humbly and proudly would like to announce that I have accepted the offer to represent my hometown, the University of Memphis," he wrote.
Knox chose the Tigers over an offer from Denver and interest from several other programs, including Belmont.
“It's always been my dream school since I was young,” Knox told The Commercial Appeal. “I called Penny two days ago and told him I wanted to play for my hometown. He told he about how he had seen me play and that he had to get me.”
Knox transferred to Bartlett from Central in order to play basketball this season. All sports at Shelby County Schools institutions have been indefinitely suspended due to COVID-19.
The point guard position has been the focus of some scrutiny at Memphis this season. Sophomores Damion Baugh and Lester Quinones, along with junior Alex Lomax, have struggled to provide a consistent presence there for the Tigers (6-4, 2-1 AAC). Adding Knox and Morris is a step toward addressing those deficiencies.
"Their plan is for me and (Morris) to come in and help bring back some good guards. Score, get people open. Do things to get the win and win a championship,” Knox said.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.