It's a new day in Memphis, as Tyler Harris signs with Penny Hardaway

He paused.

After all the words of introduction, after the presentation of the colors, after the National Anthem, after the speeches, after the news that his jersey would be retired, after nearly 45 minutes of pomp and excess and growing anticipation, Tyler Harris paused.

“I, Tyler Harris, hereby proclaim and declare my public commitment to sign a national letter of intent at . . . “

Pause.

“The University of Memphis.”

And it was bedlam, after that.

Cheering. Crying. The whole thing was both over the top and undeniable fun.

Someone on the stage grabbed a microphone.

“IT”S A NEW DAY IN THE CITY OF MEMPHIS,” he said. “IT’S A NEW DAY IN THE CITY OF MEMPHIS.”

More: Cordova's Tyler Harris signs with Penny Hardaway at Memphis

It’s certainly a new day for the local college basketball team.

Cordova High point guard Tyler Harris will be playing at Memphis. East High point guard Alex Lomax will be playing at Memphis.

In a matter of weeks, new coach Penny Hardaway successfully wooed them both.

“I think it’s definitely a shift right now,” Harris said. “He told me he’s a Memphis guy and I’m a Memphis guy.”

Simple as that, eh?

But there was nothing simple about the recruitment of Harris. If Lomax was the recruit that Penny saved, Harris is the recruit that Penny earned.

Nobody ever thought it would be possible for Memphis to get both players. Simply because they are both point guards who want the ball in their hands. Throw in the fact that the two played on rival AAU teams — Lomax played for Team Penny and Harris played for Team Thad — and the idea that both of them would end up at Memphis seemed farfetched at best.

Lomax would go to Memphis, where he would get plenty of playing time. Harris would go to Baylor, where he would get plenty of playing time.

That was the assumption, at least until Hardaway traveled to Cordova High to meet with Harris and deliver his pitch.

“He came into the room and commanded the room, like, `Hey, I’m the new coach at Memphis and I want to coach your son,’” said Frank Harris, Tyler’s father. “He has a presence. You can Google him and see what he’s done.”

Mind you, it’s not at all clear that the people around Harris would have chosen Memphis, had it been up to them. But Hardaway was able to appeal to Harris’s fundamental desire to stay at home.

It’s fashionable to say Memphis kids don’t grow up wanting to play for Memphis any longer. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

“He never batted at eye, he knew where he wanted to play,” said Frank Harris. “Always Memphis.”

So Memphis it shall be.

Harris tugged on a Memphis hat amidst the tumult. He accepted non-stop congratulations and hugs. He posed for a photo with Lomax and Jeremiah Martin, making it a trio of Memphis point guards. This particular new day felt a lot like old times.

Harris and Lomax even did a joint interview. Someone asked how the whole thing was going to work.

“I got someone’s that going to make 10 out of 10 shots so I’m going to pass it to him 10 out of 10 times,” said Lomax.

That sounds like an irresistible plan.

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