Turning the Barge: The Future of Memphis Tiger Basketball?

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Guest Columnist: D.B.

Is it possible the University of Memphis Tiger basketball team and the Memphis high school basketball players themselves are both better off if area players leave town and play for other schools?

There is no denying that this area's high school basketball players are fantastic. There is also no denying that historically the University of Memphis needed Memphis players to stay home in order to field a tournament type team. Is this just history though? When was the last “basketball success” story of a local player staying home with the university? You could probably find more “basketball success” stories with those that went away to school, sometimes after trying here first.

This possibility of mutually agreed upon separation might just be what the doctor ordered.

Leaving town for college helps for personal growth for all students. Sure, academics are the reason kids go to college, but I could argue that the personal growth that comes along with learning to live on your own is education in and among itself; especially without “helicopter parents” or “hangers on”. In my opinion, it actually may the best thing about college! There are some great schools here including Rhodes, CBU and U of M. I bet most of these parents (that went away to college themselves), though, would prefer for their child to go away for college for a similar education.

Leaving town also allows students to get away from old friends and habits, allows for focus on goal ahead and relieves external stresses inherent with “camps” and “hangers on”. This is especially true of basketball prodigies. On top of the “camps”, old friends, etc., Memphis poses the extra added stress of the high level of attention and expectations inherent with the city and program. These “camps” and “hangers on” don’t have to be considered negative influences. The same remains true of the most loving and well-intentioned parents, families, and friends. The student athlete is not allowed to grow if not on their own.

Isn’t it also important to see that there is a bigger world out there? The opportunity to meet different types of people in different geographical areas is a life changer. For basketball players, this bigger world is important if they want to be prepared for NBA, Overseas basketball, Developmental league, or the business world.

I also understand that kids going away to college may not turn out to be what was best for that individual. They may want to come back home for various reasons. It would seem to me that joining the hometown university at that point could actually be the best case scenario for the kid and the university. A new appreciation and focus for everything the hometown university can provide.

As far as the University goes: Wouldn’t it be easier to coach players that are not from their hometown? They would have a kid that has left their own hometown with their eyes wide open to new opportunities. It would be coach and team members only. The coach has ultimate control. The old coaches, runners, family members and friends would still be in the kids’ lives, however, not in direct daily contact. This is a big country, there are a number of players out there. A coach would just need to find a way to get them here…..away from their own hometown.

As far as the current situation, is it possible that both the city and Coach Smith are living in the past? The city thinks it needs hometown players when in actuality maybe it needs “new blood”. Coach Smith may not be up to date on the new recruiting world (based on local talk radio) and he most certainly is not up to date on all the public relations that goes on with his job, especially in this city. Perception is reality and there haven’t been any good public relations efforts to skew this perception in a positive way.

I know there are good arguments to suggest this theory is wrong or would just write it off as “stupid”; however, not even considering the possibility is short sighted. I’m just asking: Is it in anyone’s best interest for a local kid to play ball at the U of M? Is it also possible that the University (Mr. Rudd and Mr. Bowen) follows this theory and just cannot actually come out and say it?

It’s hard to turn a barge.