Before Friday, Amarr Knox was a promising high school basketball player with some good recruiting interest and one concrete offer, from the University of Denver.

Knox’s profile has since changed considerably.

Following on the heels of a strong performance against a Calhoun (Ala.) School team led by Alabama signee J.D. Davison, Knox officially picked up an offer from Penny Hardaway and the University of Memphis on Friday.

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“I was very excited to get it,” he said. “When I first got it, I was smiling hard. A good offer like Memphis, my hometown (school). ... It felt really good. But I have to keep working hard and staying humble. I kind of think it does (change the perception) now that I have a Memphis offer but I can’t really worry how people look at me. I’m still going to play ball and have fun out here.”

Aside from Denver, Knox said he had received lots of interest from Belmont. But the Tigers were undoubtedly impressed with his performance in Thursday’s victory over Calhoun, in which he did a fine job defensively on Davison while scoring a game-high 30 points himself.

Friday brought more of the same as he drew defensive duties against Keyonte George, a heralded class of 2022 guard from iSchool of Lewisville who was the top-ranked junior in Texas heading into the season. Knox had 26 as the Panthers fell, 71-68.

“That’s what it’s all about here at Bartlett,” said Panthers coach Dion Real. “For kids to get offers like that. I’m super-excited for him and his family.”

Real was also super-excited to land Knox as a transfer; last season, the 6-foot-3 guard played at Central and averaged 16.4 points per game. With the continued uncertainty surrounding whether or not the Shelby County School system would have a winter sports season — something that is looking increasingly unlikely given superintendent Dr. Joris Ray’s Friday announcement that in-person school won’t return before February — Knox pre-emptively transferred last month.

As his offer shows, it was a smart decision.

“Ooh-wee,” exclaimed Real. “What can’t he do? He can really, really score the ball. He scores at all different levels and I think the thing that’s surprised me the most is that he handles the ball so well. At the next level, I can see him being a combo guard and being perfectly fine.

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“But to take it to another level, (Friday) he guards Keyonte George and does as a pretty good job defensively and then (Thursday) he guards one of the better players in the 2021 class in J.D. Davison. He can do both ends and that’s why I’m excited about Memphis jumping in. He wants to play on both ends and he’s the type of kid who really wants to get better.”

Knox’s continued to development will benefit not only himself but will help what could potentially be a very good Panthers team when it’s all said and done. Former East standouts Tadarius and Terrance Jacobs made their Bartlett debuts against iSchool and if they’re able to transition as smoothly as Knox has, watch out.

“Bartlett has made it real easy,” Knox said. “They took me into the family real fast. They’ve got me working hard in the weight room ... getting stronger in my lower body so I can jump higher and get more rebounds. I can handle the ball and I’m an awesome shooter but if the shot’s not falling, I can get my teammates involved.

“I feel like I’m just an all-around good player.”