Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

C e c i l M o o r e Congratulations employee of the month Cecil always has a friendly smile on his face and a helpful, positive attitude. Anything Cecil is asked to do, he quickly jumps on it. He has been most helpful recently on the medical tray line, helping load the caddies and keeping them in perfect order. He is priceless. – Erin Geiser, Director of Culinary Services • 8 • The Pinecone | March 2019 Anfernee Deon “Penny” Hardaway (born July 18, 1971) is an American college basketball coach and a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He currently is the head coach of the Memphis Tigers. An exceptionally tall point guard, he was an all-star in his first few seasons. Hardaway was most productive in his years with the Orlando Magic (1993-1999), and his early years with the Phoenix Suns (1999-2004). Injuries began to plague him, however, and diminished his effectiveness. He played for the New York Knicks from 2004 to 2006, and finished his career in 2007 with the Miami Heat, which reunited himwith former Magic teammate Shaquille O’Neal. Hardaway is the son of Fae Hardaway and Eddie Golden. The name Anfernee was that of a schoolmate of his mother. When she left Memphis to work in Oakland in 1974, she left her son with her mother Louise. His nickname came as a result of his grandmother’s calling him “Pretty” with a southern drawl, thus sounding like “Penny”. Hardaway’s first love was football but his grandmother did not want him to get hurt. He grew up in the Binghampton neighborhood of shotgun houses in Memphis, Tennessee. As a teenager Hardaway refereed youth sports at the Memphis YMCA and played on the Memphis YMCA Jr. Olympic basketball team. Hardaway grewup playing basketball inMemphis for Treadwell High School where he averaged 36.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.9 steals, and 2.8 blocks as a senior andwas named ParadeMagazine National High School player of the year. He finished his high school career with 3,039 points. Hardaway then committed toMemphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis since 1994). Hardaway had to sit out the 1990–91 season due to being academically ineligible. While he was sitting out, Hardaway was robbed at gunpoint outside his cousin’s house and was shot in his foot by a stray bullet, putting his career in jeopardy. After he was inspired to do better in life and to accomplishmore, he made the Dean’s List with a 3.4 grade point average as an educationmajor. In the summer of 1992 Hardaway was selected to the 1992 USA Basketball Developmental Team that scrimmaged daily against the 1992 Olympic Team. Hardaway was teammates with Chris Webber, Bobby Hurley, Jamal Mashburn, Rodney Rogers, Eric Montross, Grant Hill, and Allan Houston. Hardaway returned for his junior season (1992–93) and bettered his numbers from the previous season. He averaged 22.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 6.4 apg, 2.4 spg, and 1.2 bpg. He accumulated two triple doubles. He was again named an All-American. He also was a finalist for the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R.Wooden Award that are annually given the most outstanding player in college basketball. Hardaway majored in education at Memphis State, achieved a 3.4 cumulative GPA, but passed up his senior season to enter the 1993 NBA Draft. In 1994,Memphis State retiredhis jersey number, 25,Hardaway’s number while playing for the Tigers.He returned to theUniversity ofMemphis inMay 2003 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in professional studies, ten years after leaving school early to turn pro. In 2011, Hardaway took over for his friend Desmond Merriweather as a coach for his middle school alma mater, Lester Middle School, while Merriweather was undergoing treatment for colon cancer. With a goal to have each of his players graduate from college, Hardaway instituted a mandatory tutoring program. He coached the Lester Lions to theWest Tennessee State title 58–57, finishing 28–3 for the season. Hardaway was hired as head coach by his alma mater, the Memphis Tigers, on March 19, 2018. Hardaway was hired to replace former head coach Tubby Smith and has sparked a fire in his players andMemphis fans alike.Welcome back, Penny! We are proud to have you in our court. Coming Home: Memphis Tigers Basketball Coach Penny Hardaway