Tigers legend Chris Douglas-Roberts inducted into M Club Hall of Fame

Chris Douglas-Roberts is among Memphis basketball’s brightest stars of all time.

The 6-foot-7 guard, who played for Memphis from 2005-08, helped lead the Tigers to three consecutive Conference USA titles, three straight Elite Eights and, of course, a national championship appearance in 2008. His stellar campaign that season (18.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game) propelled him to a consensus first-team All-American selection and the 40th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Nearly 17 years later, Douglas-Roberts headlined this year’s M Club Hall of Fame class. He and fellow inductees Reggie Howard (football), Stasia Mallin (women’s soccer), Altrese Hawkins (women’s volleyball) and Glenn Hill Sr. (men’s track and field) were officially honored during Saturday’s ceremony at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex.

The 38-year-old, who scored 1,545 career points (No. 11 in Memphis history), is normally hesitant to accept individual accolades. In fact, he once turned down the opportunity to have his No. 14 jersey retired at Memphis, saying that the entire 2008 team—Derrick Rose, Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier, Joey Dorsey and others—should have their uniforms in the rafters with his.

He passed on the Hall of Fame induction several years ago too, but he couldn’t say no a second time.

“When I first got the call, naturally, I downplayed it. It’s an awkward feeling when I have to talk about myself. I’d much rather talk about my teammates and my coaches,” Douglas-Roberts told a small group of reporters Saturday. “[But] sometimes, you can be a little too unselfish. Just being real. Sometimes, you gotta be open to receive.”

Douglas-Roberts remains Memphis’ most recent All-American, but PJ Haggerty might change that this year. The 6-foot-3 guard averages 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2 steals while shooting 49% overall and 42.4% from 3-point range. He’s also a midseason nominee for the John R. Wooden Award, the Jerry West Award, the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Naismith Trophy.

Douglas-Roberts is admittedly a casual viewer of Tigers basketball these days, but he still keeps an eye on his alma mater. Haggerty is on his radar too.

“I always want the kids to be better than we were. I want him to be better than me. If he can [become an All-American], I would love that,” Douglas-Roberts said. “We gotta go a little deeper in [the NCAA] Tournament. That’s why I was consensus, because every year, I was [in the] Elite Eight.”

Douglas-Roberts returns to FedExForum when Haggerty and the Tigers host Florida Atlantic on Sunday (1 p.m., ESPN2), where he and the other inductees will be recognized in front of fans.

Douglas-Roberts won’t just be there for himself, though. In his mind, he’s also representing the legendary 2008 squad, which is almost two decades overdue for its own celebration.

“It’s crazy. I look in the mirror like, ‘Damn, I’m 38.’” he said. “But it goes to show that greatness is timeless. We’re gonna be remembered as long as there is a University of Memphis.”