Memphis Basketball to Host Pro Days this Week

The Tigers will have their chance to show the NBA what they’re made of later this week.

That’s because Memphis basketball will be hosting pro days for NBA scouts and executives on both Thursday and Friday at the Laurie Walton Family Basketball Center. This will be the fourth time in six years Memphis has hosted a pro day under head coach Penny Hardaway.

2019’s pro day featured the likes of James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa, who both went on to becomes first round NBA draft picks in 2020 to the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat respectively. 2021’s was headlined by Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren, who were arguably the two best high school recruits in America at the time. Duren lived up to expectations and became a lottery pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2022, while Bates’ lone season at Memphis spiraled out of control. The 6-foot-9 forward later transferred to his hometown school, Eastern Michigan, where his play earned him a second round selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in this year’s draft.

2022’s pro day wasn’t nearly as star-studded as its two predecessors, but it did feature Kendric Davis—arguably the best player to sport a Memphis jersey in Hardaway’s tenure. He went on to sign with the Warriors after not being selected in this year’s draft, eventually earning a full-time contract with the team (terms and details were not released to the public).

Ditto that for Lester Quinones, except it happened the previous year. Landers Nolley, who played at Cincinnati last season after two years with the Tigers, recently signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. Josh Minott has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves since last summer. Other former Tigers under Hardaway—like Elijah McCadden and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu—have also received NBA opportunities in the Summer League.

This year’s pro day includes a plethora of exciting talent for NBA scouts. Sources tell Bluff City Media that wings David Jones and Jaykwon Walton are currently on NBA draft boards.

Jones, a transfer from St. John’s, recently joined Memphis after student visa issues delayed his arrival to campus. The Dominican Republic native averaged 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Red Storm last season. He had a fantastic showing—ironically enough—against the Tigers on Aug. 2 when playing for the Dominican Republic National Team, scoring 12 points and shooting 5-5 from the field.

Walton, who comes from Wichita State, became a Tiger seemingly out of the blue in late July. He first signed with Alabama in the spring, but was later arrested on marijuana charges in Tuscaloosa. Police also found firearms in the vehicle in which he was a passenger. Now kicked off the Crimson Tide, Walton quickly rebounded with a commitment to UCF in May. After settling with the Knights for a few months, an opportunity presented itself at Memphis after MTSU transfer Teafale Lenard rescinded his pledge to the Tigers. Needless to say, Walton took it.

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 13.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 53.5% from the field and 40% from three-point range for the Shockers last season. He also played well during Memphis’ trip to the Dominican Republic this summer, scoring 11 and 27 points respectively in two exhibition games. Walton looks to be meshing extremely well with his new teammates, calling Memphis “the best group I’ve ever played with” during a media availability on Sept. 27.

Other stars such as point guard Jahvon Quinerly, center Jordan Brown and guard Caleb Mills will also get their opportunities to impress NBA scouts, as will freshman wings Ashton Hardaway, Carl Cherenfant and JJ Taylor.

“[There’s] so much talent,” Walton said of his team last week. “You never know who’s going to have a big night. That’s the scary part about us.”