When Alex Lomax was named Mr. Basketball his sophomore and junior years of high school, everyone in Memphis loved him.

Two new sports franchises, a world-class golf tournamaent and the arrival of James Wiseman mean 2019 could be an historic year in Memphis sports. Here are the top 10 most compelling Memphis sports figures of the year ahead (and, no, Penny Hardaway is not No. 1). 

If Chandler Parsons wants playing time, he can prove he deserves it by playing for the Hustle. Right now, his public criticism of the franchise seems both premature and ungrateful. 

Penny Hardaway was the most compelling Memphis sports figure of 2018. But here are 10 more who shaped the year. 

Just one year ago, Memphis Tiger basketball was an embarrassment. New coach Penny Hardaway has changed everything. 

BIRMINGHAM — He made the first one. Riley Patterson drilled the 38-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Except Wake Forest called timeout just before the snap. So he had to kick the thing again.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, now known as Supreme Bey, is returning to Memphis early next week to start a foundation and host an event to give Christmas gifts to kids. He explains why he's doing it, what he's up to these days and why he declined the university's offer to retire his number. 

This could have been embarrassing for Penny Hardaway and the Memphis program. It’s one thing to get into a public fracas with Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. It’s another thing to then go out and lose to a team like Little Rock. But with 3:52 left in the game, Little Rock up by two points, embarrassment seemed distinctly possible.

And on the third day after the Memphis-Tennessee game, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway went after Tennessee coach Rick Barnes with balled up — not fists — but words, at the very least.

MarShon Brooks could hear his mother, he just couldn’t hear what she was saying to him.

Robert Pera remains committed to keeping the Grizzlies in Memphis and is more active than ever in running the team. That emerged as the theme of The Daily Memphian’s interview with Pera – the product of a longstanding request – during halftime of Friday’s game against the Miami Heat. 

Just 47 seconds remained in this brawl of a game, when an actual brawl seemed on the verge of breaking out. 

Twelve cough drops. Not one, not two, not three, not 10.

As the big game bears down upon us, as Memphis prepares to play Tennessee in basketball, let us all come together to agree on one essential truth: you have to pick a side.

Mike Norvell had just returned to his office from a day of recruiting in Memphis high schools when he saw a tweet from my former colleague Mark Giannotto speculating about his future.

After studyings its options, Christian Brothers University announced Tuesday its athletics will remain a member of the NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference.

You know who had a good night for Memphis Saturday?

ORLANDO — Nobody said that following Memphis sports was going to be all happiness and joy.

After eight games, after four wins and four losses, after trips to Baton Rouge, Orlando and Miami, the Memphis Tigers are the one thing you should have really wanted them to be at this point in the season.

At precisely 11:42 a.m. Saturday, the Memphis Tigers ran out of Penny Hardaway bobbleheads.

How, you may ask, did Penny Hardaway come to sign a wing sauce stain?

ORLANDO — After the traditional photos with the championship trophy, after the smiles and the shaking of hands, Memphis coach Mike Norvell quietly handed a football to UCF coach Josh Heupel — signed by the Memphis team — to give to UCF’s injured quarterback, McKenzie Milton.

ORLANDO – Just a few days earlier, Penny Hardaway had been sitting along the baseline at the Landers Center, watching three gifted recruits light up the court.

ORLANDO — Penny Hardaway sat in front of the microphone in the wake of Oklahoma State’s blowout win over the Memphis Tigers in the AdvoCare Invitational and decided to really lay into the individual he thought was responsible for the listless performance.

Mike Norvell had time to think about the play, time to think about exactly what to call.