Martin: Can a hometown kid help Hardaway bring back the glory days?
Fred Smith Jr., left, stands with his father Fred Smith on April 9 at a ceremony at Briarcrest celebrating his commitment to the University of Memphis basketball program. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)
John Martin
John Martin is a contributing college sports columnist for The Daily Memphian. Martin is a lifelong Memphian who’s covered the Memphis Tigers’ basketball program for more than a decade. Before joining The Daily Memphian team, he was the Memphis beat writer for The Athletic. Currently, he is the co-host of the Jason and John Show on 92.9 FM ESPN, weekdays at 11 a.m. Martin is a graduate of White Station High School and the University of Memphis.
Just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Fred Smith Jr. stepped from behind a curtain that was set up on the Briarcrest basketball court. It was decision day for the two-time Mr. Basketball winner.
With a gym full of interested spectators, there wasn’t much drama about his college announcement. He donned a Memphis Tigers T-shirt. He put on a Memphis Tigers hat. And Pouncer, the Tigers' mascot, followed right behind him.
The four-star prospect committed to Penny Hardaway and the Tigers on Thursday, giving the Memphis basketball program some much-needed momentum after the worst on-court season since the 1970s.
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