Memphis basketball recently hosted its annual pro day, providing a valuable opportunity for players to make an impression on NBA scouts. The pro day, which took place as an open practice, was specifically geared toward displaying individual skills, giving scouts a clearer picture of the players’ current abilities.
The showcase wasn’t a typical practice. Players participated in drills that highlighted their passing, shooting, and footwork, before dividing into teams for a scrimmage. The 40-minute game between the Blue and Gray teams came down to the wire, with Moussa Cisse and Jared Harris leading their squad to a narrow victory.
Penny Hardaway, now entering another season as head coach, faces the challenge of melding a new roster filled with talent. “We’ve had Tyrese [Hunter] and PJ [Haggerty] compete against one another. We’ve been doing a lot of drill work, and now it’s time for us to start to mesh,” Hardaway said about building team chemistry.
Nick Jourdain, a transfer from Temple, is the lone returning rotational player from last season. Known for his relentless energy, Jourdain is expected to bring leadership to this year’s team. Hardaway, meanwhile, is putting an emphasis on defense this season. “We were able to put a lot of stuff in back in June and July,” he said.
Jourdain, reflecting on last season’s ups and downs, has been advising his teammates: “I know we’re going to be up for the non-conference games. But when teams play at FedExForum, they’re going to give us their best game every time. We are the hunted. I tell them how it’s going to be.”
Moussa Cisse, who returned to Memphis after a season at Ole Miss, is set to be a defensive force in the paint. Cisse, named Newcomer of the Year during his freshman season at Memphis, will be counted on to protect the rim and dominate the boards.
Jared Harris, a 6-foot-2 freshman guard from Silsbee, Texas, displayed flashes of potential during the scrimmage. As a four-star recruit, Harris is eager to learn from the veterans. “I look at them as big brothers. I try to copy some of their games and put some of my game into it,” Harris said of his early experience with the team. Last season, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.0 steals as a junior at Silsbee High School.
As Hardaway prepares to head to AAC Media Day in this next week, expectations remain high for the Tigers. Memphis is projected to finish first in the preseason coaches’ poll, but Hardaway is focused on staying grounded. “We have never won a regular-season championship,” he said. “That is our focus. We want to do well in non-conference, but when it gets to conference, we have to get over the hump.”
Upcoming Exhibition Games The Tigers will play two exhibition games to benefit charity. On Tuesday, October 15, Memphis will take on North Carolina at FedExForum, with proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The second exhibition will be held on Monday, October 28, in Huntsville, AL, where Memphis will face Alabama.
