Calkins: Maybe these Memphis Tigers aren’t so bad, after all. Maybe they’re even fun.
University of Memphis guard Dug McDaniel (1) gets around his defender during a Nov. 8, 2025 game against the University of San Francisco. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
With five minutes left in the first half, Dug McDaniel drove into the lane then whipped a pass to Simon Majok.
Majok is an 18-year-old, 7-1 center from Akak, South Sudan.
He arrived in Memphis in August.
Now he was winding up for a straight-away 3-pointer — his first official shot since setting foot in the United States.
He drained it, of course.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Subscriber Only Memphis vs. San Francisco Simon Majok Penny Hardaway Memphis Tigers Basketball2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
Will you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news? Make a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian, a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization, today.
Thank you for keeping up with what’s happening in Memphis. Thank you for investing in our community’s trusted local news source.
Geoff Calkins on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Geoff Calkins' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.