Ja Morant assisted his teammates against the Hornets. His mother assisted a young fan to create a night he will remember forever.

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Jaren Jackson Jr. making progress toward return

Box score: Grizzlies 130, Hornets 99

Jaren Jackson Jr. has begun 3-on-3 play and is ramping up conditioning to prepare for a return to play, but the Grizzlies do not have a target date for the forward yet. 

Keith Parish, of Grits and Grinds and Fastbreak Breakfast, predicted a 30/20 from Morant and Bane before the season began and joins this bonus edition of The Daily Memphian Grizzlies Podcast. 

The Memphis coach won’t disclose the starting lineup for the season opener at Vanderbilt, but does offer updates on availability of Kendric Davis, Damaria Franklin.

The Tigers are 4-1 when the tight end scores at least one touchdown, and he’s become arguably the team’s most important offensive player beside quarterback Seth Henigan. 

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Key stats and numbers for Memphis-UCF homecoming game

Only two teams have scored more than 20 points against the Knights this year, but the Tigers haven’t scored less than 23 all season. 

Memphis beat top-seeded host UCF and will face SMU in Sunday’s title game at Orlando.

Fayette-Ware’s Cato, Northpoint’s Patterson, St. Benedict’s Ward finish as the area’s top rusher, passer and receiver. Check out all the final regular season leaders and final standings.

Junior quarterback McCoy Pugh for accounted for 273 yards, three touchdowns in victory over Bolivar Central.

Nine players from the Shelby-Metro area have been named semifinalists for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award, which will be presented next month in Nashville.

Desmond Bane leads the NBA in fourth quarter scoring this season. He and Ja Morant give the Grizzlies a lethal combination in winning time. 

Memphis gave up a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, but found a way to win on the road in Portland. 

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Box score: Grizzlies 111, Trail Blazers 106

NBA box score for Wednesday’s game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers played in Portland, Oregon.

Standouts from Craigmont, Fayette-Ware, Kirby, Melrose, Ridgeway and Wooddale honored by the league’s coaches.

The jersey retirement will take place during a ceremony at FedExForum at a future game to be determined by the program and the late Wright’s family.

The defense is going to have its hands full against a physical UCF team that averages the eighth-most rushing yards in the country at more than 244 rushing yards per game.

Groundbreaking for the project scheduled for January.

The Tigers haven’t lost a homecoming game since 2016 and hope to keep that streak going against UCF. 

For the 6-foot-3 transfer guard Tigers coach Penny Hardaway calls “pretty special,” the most direct route to eligibility would be for University of Illinois-Chicago head coach Luke Yaklich to sign a “no participation opportunity” form. But UIC and Yaklich refuse to sign.

The Grizzlies have played just two games so far this season with Dillon Brooks, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane available. 

The 64th AutoZone Liberty Bowl will be played on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 4:30 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN.

Tennessee, Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson are top four in first College Football Playoff rankings announced Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Tony Pollard had a career day and became the first Cowboys running back to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since 2015. 

Memphis’ two exhibition games confirmed the obvious: Kendric Davis and DeAndre Williams are clearly the Tigers’ two best players. But who’s next?

St. Benedict senior Rachel Gammill posts high game in victory over St. Mary’s.