MEMPHIS, Tenn — Former Memphis Tiger basketball player and current Tigers men's basketball head coach, Penny Hardaway, has been named a nominee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, per a release.
Hardaway is a nominee for the first time alongside the late Walter Davis for the Class of 2024. The nominee class also includes first time nominees, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team (“Redeem Team”), Vince Carter, Seimone Augustus, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Barnes, Mike Fratello, and Penny Taylor. The full list of nominees can be found here.
Hardaway played for the Memphis Tigers from 1991-1993. He was a two-time All-American that guided then Memphis State to the NCAA Tournament twice. He finished his Memphis career with over 1,300 points in just two seasons and had his #25 jersey retired by the University. He was drafted third overall in the 1993 NBA Draft to the Orlando Magic.
Hardaway played 14 seasons in the NBA and was a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA First Team member. He finished his NBA career with more than 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,500 assists.
The Tigers legend returned to his alma mater in 2018 and has since led the Tigers to five 20-win seasons. He is 120-54 as head coach of the Tigers. Memphis has since won a NIT Championship (2021), an AAC Conference Championship (2023) and taken Memphis to the NCAA Tournament twice (2022, 2023).
Finalists from the Honor’s Committee for the Class of 2024 will be announced on Friday, February 16, in Indianapolis, Indiana, during NBA All-Star Weekend. The entire Class of 2024 will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, April 6, in a nationally televised broadcast.