Memphis Tigers: NBA Champion joins Penny Hardaway's staff

The Memphis Tigers are adding a former NBA Champion to their coaching staff. Rasheed Wallace, a 16-year NBA veteran, four-time All-Star and 2004 NBA Champion is joining Penny Hardaway’s staff, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

16-year NBA veteran Rasheed Wallace – a 2004 champion and four-time All-Star – has agreed to a deal to become a new assistant coach at University of Memphis under Penny Hardaway, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 18, 2021

The hiring comes on the same day Memphis is set to host five-star prospect Emoni Bates.

In addition to Wallace, the Memphis coaching staff also includes veteran coach Larry Brown. Wallace knows Brown well, as the duo won the 2004 NBA Championship together with the Detroit Pistons.

As a coach, Wallace was an assistant with the Pistons from 2013 to 2014. Additionally, from 2019 on he’s been the head coach at Charles E. Jordan High School in Durham, North Carolina.

On the court, Wallace was known for his grittiness, toughness and ability to intimidate his opponents. Aside from his skillset, his personality made him an important piece of every team he played for.

Big Day for Memphis

The addition of Wallace comes on the same day that 5-star prospect Emoni Bates is set to visit the school. If the Tigers can reel in Bates this offseason, it would cap off a magnificent offseason for Hardaway’s program.

Bates is expected to be picked in the lottery in the 2023 NBA draft, and could be picked as high as No. 1 overall.

Exploring his college options, Bates previously committed to Michigan State from June 29, 2020 till April 30, 2021. They remain an option he’ll consider, along with Oregon, but Memphis has a chance to swindle Bates away. 

Jalen Duren set to enroll in Memphis

Recently, news broke that 5-star recruit Jalen Duren would reclassify to the class of 2021 and join the Tigers. Duren knows Bates well, as they played together in AAU together earlier this year. 

Duren spoke with On3’s national high school basketball recruiting expert Joe Tipton earlier in this month about why he loved the Tigers, and Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway.

“Penny (Hardaway) is a players coach. He’s done it before and he’s been through all levels of basketball. Their pitch is the NBA knowledge they have, with adding Larry Brown and Cody Toppert. Just the development that they can provide.”

The Philadelphia, Pa. native chose Memphis over Miami, Kentucky, the G League, and the Australian NBL. According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Duren turned down a $2 million offer from the Australian NBL.

It’s obvious the Memphis Tigers are on the rise, and Penny Hardaway has a lot to do with that. Rasheed Wallace and Jalen Duren are joining the fold, but Emoni Bates could be on his way as well.

On3’s Tim Verghese and Wade Peery contributed to this article.

Image courtesy of Ezra Shaw / Getty Images