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NBA legend Penny Hardaway shines spotlight on star-filled Memphis Hall of Fame
When I think of Memphis State University, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway is the first person who comes to mind.
Hardaway, a nominee for the 2024 class of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, had a legendary All-American career for Memphis, a school now known as the University of Memphis after its official name change in 1994.
Hardaway passed up his senior season to enter the 1993 NBA Draft, but his presence on the court was felt across the country: he was No. 5 on the list of top 100 modern college point guards by collegehoopsnet.com and a leading vote-getter on ESPN’s Conference USA Silver Anniversary Team. In 1994, Memphis State retired Hardaway’s jersey number 25.
He returned to the University of Memphis in May 2003 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in professional studies, 10 years after leaving school early to turn pro.
And boy, what an NBA career he had.
Hardaway was a four-time NBA All-Star (1995-98) in a 14-year career that included stints with the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Miami Heat. Hardaway retired after the 2007-08 season, having played 704 regular-season games and another 64 in the playoffs. He is now head coach of the Memphis men's basketball team.
Hardaway’s card legacy spans about 30 years and includes such cardboard gems as a 1993 Topps Gold No. 334 Rookie card. Graded PSA 10, it has an $3,750 asking price on eBay. A 1993 Hoops Draft Hardaway Redemption RC LP #3, graded PSA 10, goes for about $1,500. Hardaway also has rookie cards from SkyBox, Upper Deck and Fleer.
Hardaway was known to many as simply “Penny,” a nickname that came from his grandmother calling him “Pretty” with a southern drawl. But I also quickly thought of Lil’ Penny when I walked into the University of Memphis Athletics Hall of Fame. In fact, it’s officially the Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway University of Memphis Athletics Hall of Fame.
Lil’ Penny was the trash-talking, outspoken, Tyra Banks-jonesing puppet voiced by Chris Rock. While Hardaway starred on the court, Lil’ Penny shined everywhere else in iconic Nike ads.
Lil’ Penny is in the first display case when you walk inside the large, spacious, fun-filled University of Memphis Athletics Hall of Fame, which spotlights the sporting legacy of a school that was founded in 1912 and now has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students.
The Memphis Hall of Fame shines a light on many other sports stars that had legendary Tiger careers, including former NBA players Derrick Rose and Lorenzen Wright, former NFL stars DeAngelo Williams, Isaac Bruce, Stephen Gostkowski and Earnest Gray, and former MLB player Dan Uggla. There are countless other former Tigers who went on to pro careers, particularly in the NBA — and many carry a card legacy.
Hillman Robbins was the first, and only, inductee in 1973. He was a golfer who won the 1957 U.S. Amateur Championship.
The Class of 2022 was the latest, with six newcomers.
The Class of 1994 includes Will Renfro, the first University of Memphis football player to play in the NFL. A Mississippi native, Renfro entered Memphis State College in 1950 and lettered for four years. After graduating, he went into the U.S. Army for two years, then signed with the Washington Redskins in 1957 and played defensive end and tackle for the Redskins, as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets before retiring after the 1964 season. He appeared on 1960 and 1961 Kahn’s Wieners cards and the 1961 Fleer (No. 13).
Also featured inside the University of Memphis Athletics Hall of Fame are: plaques honoring 150-plus All-Americans; conference championship trophies; a wall spotlighting Tigers in the pros; photos galore; detailed signage; and, of course, plenty of game-used and game-worn sports memorabilia.
Other highlights include:
• A plaque honoring the Detroit News’ 1963 National Football Coach of the Year: Billy J. Murphy. He was the school’s head football coach from 1958-71, compiling 91-44-1 record and leading the 1963 team to the school’s first undefeated team in 25 years.
• An area honoring past Memphis coaches, including Gene Bartow, Larry Finch and Mary Lou Johns.
• National Football Foundation Hall of Fame plaques.
• A Memphis Spirit wall showcasing the school’s cheerleading legacy and its pom squad.
• Vertical banners salute track star Deenia McMiller, among others.
• The final remains of TOM, the school’s famed Bengal tiger mascot.
• The discus used by All-American Luke Vaughn in 2019.
• Spikes of Colin Hume.
• Basketball and whistle that were displayed at the memorial service for the late Larry Finch, who was born in Memphis, played high school basketball in Memphis, and then played for and later coached the Memphis State basketball team.
• Spotlight sections on the John Calipari era. Calipari, now at the University of Kentucky, was the Memphis men’s head basketball coach from 2000-2009 and was named Sports Illustrated College Basketball Coach of the Year in 2009.
• A 1971 Pasadena Bowl pennant and pin.
• Souvenirs from the 2003 New Orleans Bowl.
• LaTonya Johnson and Tamika Whitmore game-worn jerseys. Johnson was the school’s first-ever WNBA draftee and still ranks among the Memphis career leaders in scoring, free-throws made, free-throws attempted, three-point field goals and rebounds. She remains one of just two women’s basketball players in school history to take a team to the NCAA tournament all four years of her career. Johnson has 1999 rookie WNBA cards from Hoops and Ultra.
Whitmore also starred on the basketball court as a two-time Conference USA Player of the Year and three-time All-American. She was named to five All-American teams and ultimately played 11 pro seasons — for New York, Los Angeles, Indiana and Connecticut in the WNBA, and simultaneously for international teams in Spain, France, Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic. Whitmore has a 2000 Ultra and a 2000 SkyBox rookie card.
• Game-worn jersey of Herb Hilliard.
• Runner-up trophy for the 1960 Sugar Bowl basketball game.
• A 1959 football pennant.
• Tom Nix’ 1949 scholarship offer.
• A 1961 football game ball.
• Women’s basketball display case.
• Game-worn jersey of Chris Powers.
• Piece of a game-used football goalpost.
• Autographed soccer gloves used by Elise Kuhar-Pitters in 2009.
• A 2008 Conference USA championship ring.
• Elma Roane display case honoring her legacy and contributions to the women’s athletic department.
• The original basketball team bench from Memorial Fieldhouse, circa 1951.
• Isaac Bruce signed football and jersey.
• Game-worn jersey of Charlie Babb, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and played eight seasons in the NFL. In 1976, Babb was named to the All-NFC team. He played in Super Bowls VII and VIII and participated in 16 career playoff games.
• Hat from former Memphis and Montreal Expos pitcher Charlie Lea.
• Los Angeles Dodgers hat of Dave Anderson.
• Baseball autographed by Mark Bowlan, who threw a perfect game for Memphis in 1987.
• Harlem Globetrotters jersey of former Tiger Michael “Wild Thing” Wilson, who holds the world record for the highest dunk. In 2000, Wilson dunked a basketball on a goal set at 3.65m (12 feet) from the floor, landing him in the Guinness Book Of World Records.
• Elliot Perry’s jersey and goggles. Perry is the school’s second all-time leading scorer who played nine years in the NBA. His 1991 Classic card (No. 27) features his name misspelled on the front and the back. His name also is wrong on his 1991 Classic Four Sport card and his 1991 Classic Four Sport – French card.
• Stephen Gostkowski’s game-worn jersey from Super Bowl XLV.
• The 1975 football helmets of Bob Rush and Keight Wright.
• A Jerry Todd jersey.
• Bob Ford’s 1950s era football jersey.
• Andre Turner’s basketball warmup suit.
• Dave Pawlik’s 1971 football jersey.
• Tim Harris’ 1984 football helmet.
• Steve Jaggard’s football cleats
• Lou McLelland’s 1950s era football cleats.
• Keith Wright’s Japan Bowl football jersey.
• Annie Svolto’s competition rifle.
• Terry Pressgrove’s 1970s era bat.
• Blair Gilbert’s hat and glove.
