Tyler Harris, a four-star point guard from Cordova High School, has committed to the University of Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team.
By landing Harris, New Memphis Head Coach Penny Hardaway and assistant coach Tony Madlock have now locked up the two top seniors in Memphis high school basketball, as four-star point guard Alex Lomax signed with the Tigers on Wednesday. In addition, Penny Hardaway’s son, 6-foot-5 shooter Jayden Hardaway, who played alongside Lomax both with Team Penny and on the 2017 East High School state Championship team has signed with the Tigers.
Tyler Harris, the 2018 Tennessee Mr. Basketball, is widely considered to be one of the guards to come from Memphis in recent memory along with the aforementioned Lomax who led East to its third consecutive state championship in March and also was 2016 and 2017 Tennessee Mr. Basketball.
Harris’ growing legend in Memphis reached a fever pitch after a knocked down a 30-foot game winner to defeat the White Station Spartans back in December. Seemingly everyone in the building knew Harris was going to take and make that shot, and when the ball went through the net, most of the fans in the building stormed the court.
Tyler Harris Game Winner Courtesy of Ultimate Preps
Back in February we had opportunity Cordova High School Coach Terrance Scales, who has coached Tyler for the past three seasons, and he had this to say about his sharp-shooting guard, “I feel he’s one of the best guard in Memphis, and I feel that Tyler and Darius Garland (Nashville) are the two of best players in the state of Tennessee along with East High guard Alex Lomax”.
In Coach Scales opinion, Harris who led the Wolves to the TSSAA State Championship game in 2016, is among the elite players in America, though his recent play in the summer catipulted him to be considered a top 70 player by rivals.com “He’s a top 30 player in the country, I don’t know where ESPN or rivals ranks him, but if he’s not a top 30 kid in the country, then I just don’t know basketball.
Coach Scales goes on to add, “He’s probably the best shooter I’ve ever coached. He shoots it well on the catch, shoots it well off of the dribble, or coming off of screens. He handles the ball beautifully, he’s got great court vision, if you hug him he can blow by you. He also finishes extremely well for his size due to his athleticism”.
Tyler Harris Pangos All-American Camp Highlights
Tyler Harris also possess a deadly mid-range game, feathery touch, and a vast array of floaters that allows him to finish in the paint over bigger defenders.
Despite the recent attention that Harris has received nationally, locally he has long been considered a tremendous talent and arrived at Cordova High as a sophomore after transferring from Ridgeway High School. Harris arrived to Cordova with a tremendous pedigree that dates back to his days as a terror on the AAU circuit with the Memphis War Eagles.
According to Coach Scales, “All credit goes to Tyler and his dad Coach Frank who has done a great job of instilling a great work ethic in Tyler, you can tell he’s been schooled for a long time, and we are reaping the benefits”.
Tyler Harris has been a priority for the Tigers for some time, considering he took on an official visit to the University of Memphis campus back in the fall, but the early signing period passed without Harris signing with then Tiger Head Coach Tubby Smith, who was subsequently fired at the end of the season due to dwindling attendance, a significant drop in donations from boosters, and the Tigers failure to make the postseason for the second consecutive season under Smith.
Tyler Harris Highlights Courtesy of Hoop City Films
With Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax now in the fold, the Tigers staff will now turn their attention to landing some help on the wing and in the paint.
For the latest on Memphis Tigers basketball recruiting visit Talkbacklive.org, or for the latest from Talkback Live contributor Justice Bolden follow him via twitter @JusticeSBolden
