As the final seconds drained away, Lester Quinones penetrated and flipped the ball to Jalen Duren, who rose over everyone for the dunk.

It was ferocious and it was beautiful.

It was the perfect way to end the evening and begin a new year. 

Observations from first Memphis basketball practice: Tigers kick off with a bang

“We have a ton of talent,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “We’re going to do big things.”

And the hundreds of fans crowded around the court were happy to believe.

Hardaway and the Tigers held their traditional open practice for the Rebounders Club on Tuesday, and what a spectacular show it was. Ja Morant was in the building. So were David Vaughn and Jeremiah Martin and Rodney Newsom and Will Coleman and half a dozen other Tigers from years past.

“I’ve been to a lot of these,” said Bob Barksdale, 73, a fan who saw his first Memphis game back in the 1950s. “I hope this is the one.”

It could be, too.

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Few Memphis teams have had more talent than the one that took the court at Laurie-Walton Center. There is no limit to the glories the next six months might hold.

Of course, people said the same sorts of things two years ago, when James Wiseman began his brief Memphis career. And we all know what happened to that.

So it would be natural to have a certain wariness about the upcoming season. At least, until you see the players with your very own eyes. 

And then?

“This is incredible,” said Realis Sanders, another fan from way back. “It’s a whole different vibe.”

Here’s the thing about watching this Memphis team practice. The players are so big and so gifted — and the characters are so charismatic and so memorable — that it’s nearly impossible to take it all in.

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There’s Emoni Bates, who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was 15, hitting a step-back jumper as sweet as any you’ll ever see. 

There’s Larry Brown, the only coach to win NBA and NCAA titles, pulling five-star center Jalen Duren aside for a chat.

There’s Rasheed Wallace, an NBA champion and four-time All-Star, yanking his mask down to demand more energy.

There’s DeAndre Williams, freed from the burden of doing everything himself, vowing that these Tigers will have a “huge year.”

Why would anyone doubt him? The talent level is staggering. And it goes well beyond the players who are expected to start. Josh Minott and John Camden, two true freshmen, were among the best players at Tuesday’s scrimmage. Chandler and Johnathan Lawson would have been instant starters on a whole lot of Memphis teams.

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But Bates and Duren were the main attractions. And they were every bit as impressive as you would hope.

Bates is slim and explosive and carries himself like a star. Duren is broad and explosive and plants himself like an oak.

“We’re definitely happy to be able to look at this roster and have so many options of where I can go,” Hardaway said. “It’s just amazing. It’s definitely the best roster I’ve had since I’ve been here.”

To which Larry Brown added: “Talent doesn’t win s---.”

Brown said this to the circle of players after the practice ended. It is the kind of irrefutable wisdom that comes along with 81 years.

He told the players they looked just fine running through drills, but when the scrimmage started, they abandoned everything they’d been taught.

“Maybe it was because there were people here,” Brown said, waving toward the Rebounders. “But there will be people at every game.”

So there is a long way to go before this team fulfills its promise. A lot can happen between now and then.

As if to remind everyone, a fan named Kelan Jenkins showed up in a Wiseman jersey. 

“I didn’t think anyone else would be wearing one,” he said. 

Well, he got that right.

“I remember the excitement that year,” he said. “It was really high.”

So this time, Jenkins wanted to see for himself. He wanted to see what all the fuss was about. And after 20 minutes of practice, he delivered his dispassionate verdict. 

“I saw everything I needed to see,” he said. “They’re going to be great.”