Former Treadwell High School basketball star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway will become the ninth person and first-ever athlete from the state of Tennessee to be inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame.
Hardaway is among 12 individuals who will be inducted in the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National High School Hall of Fame July 2 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place in Boston.
The 32nd Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be the closing event of the 95th NFHS Annual Summer Meeting.
Hardaway’s accolades in high school are many. He was named the Parade Magazine National Player of the Year and was the winner of the TSSAA Class AA Mr. Basketball Award during his senior season (1989-90). He was a three-time All-State selection and was twice named theCommercial Appeal’s “Best of the Preps” Player of the Year.
“Penny” finished his high school career with 3,039 points. As a junior, he averaged 32.2 points per game, which led to a state record for most points in a season. His record of 1,289 points still stands today. Treadwell advanced to the finals of the state tournament that season and he was named to the all-tournament team.
During his senior season he averaged 36.3 points per game. Treadwell advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament that year, and he was again named to the all-tournament team.
After high school he went on to play at Memphis State University ( now University of Memphis) where he was named an All-American in 1993. He had his jersey retired at the school in 1994. He was the 3rd overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and went on to an outstanding 15-year career in the NBA. He won a Gold Medal with the USA Men’s Basketball team in the 1996 Summer Olympics and was a four-time NBA All-Star Selection. He scored over 10,000 points in his NBA career and finished with over 3,500 career assists.
“We are extremely happy for Penny and his family,” said Bernard Childress, executive director of TSSAA. “He is one of the best athletes in Tennessee high school history, and we are honored to have him represent our state as the first athlete inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame. However, more than what he did on the court throughout his high school, college, and professional career, Mr. Hardaway is an outstanding leader in his community and continues to give back to that community through his leadership and numerous charitable endeavors. This is a very proud moment for Memphis, the State of Tennessee, and TSSAA, but most of all, it’s a proud moment for the Hardaway family.
Previous Tennessee inductees include Rick Insell, Catherine Neely, the late Jim Smiddy, the late Buck Van Huss, and the late Boyce Smith, all coaches. The late Bill Pack was inducted into the Hall of Fame as an official, as well as Billy Schrivner of Jackson. Ronnie Carter, former Executive Director of TSSAA, was inducted last year as an administrator.
The National High School Hall of Fame was started in 1982 by the NFHS to honor high school athletes, coaches, contest officials, administrators, performing arts coaches/directors and others for their extraordinary achievements and accomplishments in high school sports and activity programs. This year's class increases the number in the Hall of Fame to 423.
The 12 individuals were chosen after a two-level selection process involving a screening committee composed of active high school state association administrators, coaches and officials, and a final selection committee composed of coaches, former athletes, state association officials, media representatives and educational leaders. Nominations were made through NFHS member associations.
About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 16 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.7 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS web site at www.nfhs.org.