Penny Hardaway understood the head scratching that followed his decision to insert his son, Jayden, into the starting lineup last week against UConn.

After all, Jayden — a redshirt freshman — only played sparingly for much of the season and had not played a single minute in either of the two games before the matchup with the Huskies. He was also averaging just 2.3 points and 0.7 rebounds.

But there was more to Hardaway’s move than simply replacing D.J. Jeffries, who had just suffered a knee injury that will require at least four to six weeks of recovery time, in the starting lineup with Jayden. The date with UConn was designated as Memphis’ “Autism Speaks” game, a campaign enlisting NCAA basketball teams help raise awareness and funds.

“Jayden was born autistic,” Hardaway said Monday during his weekly radio show. “And that was the autism game. So, he overcame autism and he’s really just a walking miracle with everything he had going on. So that was really a thing between father and son.”

Studies have shown some children eventually stop exhibiting symptoms of autism.

Jayden played seven minutes as the Tigers (16-5, 5-3 AAC) beat the Huskies, finishing with two rebounds and an assist. Hardaway elaborated on the decision Tuesday ahead of the Tigers' game with Temple on Wednesday (7 p.m., CBSSN).

“First of all, I put him out there because I felt like he could stretch the defense,” Hardaway said. “He’s not going to play big minutes anyway because he’s a jump shooter and he’s a playmaker. But also because he was born autistic. Then, around the third or fourth grade, he got better. I thought that was pretty cool. Me and (strength coach Darby Rich) talk about it, because he has a son who was born autistic and has autism.

“I thought that was pretty cool (to start Jayden) because I knew he wasn’t going to hurt us in any kind of way by starting him.”

Asked whether the younger Hardaway will start against the Owls (11-10, 3-6), the coach said: "That I don't know yet. It could be Jayden again, we don't know. We'll see."

How will he decide who will start with Jeffries out?

"My feel of who meshes well with (the starters)," he said. "it's all about chemistry with me. That's why I keep certain guys on the bench and certain guys starting. I tried to start that one group, then the chemistry of the bench was a little off, so Alex (Lomax) went back to the bench. Because I felt like he and Tyler (Harris) played great together during that 10-game win streak."

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.