MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Penny Hardaway heads into 2021-22 with the No. 1 recruiting class for the second time in three seasons.
To reel in that class, headlined by Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates, Hardaway had to pull out the stops; even the Lil' ones.
Lil' Penny, Hardaway's puppet alter-ego in a famous Nike ad campaign, made his first appearance in real-life Penny's Tigers coaching tenure this month, in pictures from Bates' official visit. Was his presence what put Memphis over the competition?
"I think Lil' Penny would like to say so," Hardaway said with a smirk.
In actuality, the Tigers fourth-year head coach believes his new marquee coaching staff was the main selling point. But Hardaway said it was fun to bring Lil' Penny back for a recruiting assist.
"It's a part of who I am," Hardaway said. "It's part of what we do and how I made my name in the industry, in the NBA with marketing and things of that nature. Having Lil' Penny here is self-explanatory. It's part of my history and it's also funny as well at the same time."