Team Thad has new Nike deal
A Memphis-based AAU program that won a national title this summer is taking a step up in the basketball world.
Team Thad, the local AAU outlet sponsored by former Mitchell High School and current Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young, will now be a Nike-sponsored team. The announcement came Sunday at Elma Roane Field House on the University of Memphis campus during halftime of the first "Memphis Legends" basketball game.
"It's a big step," Young said.
Team Thad had been an Under Armour-sponsored program, and its 17-andunder team won the 2019 UAA Finals in July under coach and co-founder Norton Hurd IV. Transitioning to a Nike program will boost the program's profile and allow
it to compete on Nike's Elite Youth Basketball circuit, which is widely regarded as the top level of AAU competition.
Previously, "Team Penny" represented Memphis on the Nike circuit before Penny Hardaway accepted the head coaching job
at the University of Memphis. The team has since been known as the Bluff City Legends.
Team Penny and Team Thad often were viewed as rivals, but Sunday's announcement that Team Thad will be taking the Nike label seemed to come with the approval of Hardaway, who was in attendance for the announcement.
"He's moved on to college, and it's time for us to kind of take it over and keep the
thing moving," Young said.
Team Thad's move to Nike sponsorship comes after it became the first Tennessee-based 17-and-under team to capture a title in one of the three major shoe company leagues.
The program has produced highly touted players such as Jeremiah Martin, O.G. Anunoby, Chris Chiozza and Lagerald Vick.
Current Tigers Damion Baugh and Tyler
Harris are also Team Thad alumni.
With the Nike label, the program's ability to attract high-level talent to Memphis is expected to increase, which ultimately could benefit Hardaway and the Memphis program in recruiting.
"I think he's happy to see that, simply because we'll be able to pull more kids into the city and pull more kids from surrounding areas that he'll be able to recruit and have it as a home base," Young said.