Written By Gabe Ratton

Memphis is known throughout the world as a basketball city, but the legacy is much more than just a basketball city. Basketball has always been Memphis’ signature sport seeing that Memphis has produced outstanding NBA talent such as: Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway started at the Tigers then became an NBA all star, then later returned to the tigers as a coach; Larry Finch U of M to a NCAA title game in 1973 as a player, and then coached at Memphis where he led them to the Elite 8 with standout player Penny Hardaway; Lorenzen Wright was the seventh overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft after spending 1994-1996 at U of M. Those are some of the many elite basketball players from Memphis. Although basketball receives much of the attention, many football players from Memphis have gone on to reach the highest levels of the sport a few accomplished players such as: Claude Humphrey who was a multi sport athlete and went on to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Isaac Bruce became a NFL hall of fame wide receiver, Dontari Poe was an elite defensive tackle who has been a two time pro bowler, DeAngelo Williams who played at Memphis, and then was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Memphis is one of the most respected cities in the world for basketball as shown with the fact that Memphis has regularly hosted Nike EYBL events, reflecting the city's reputation as one of the nation's premier basketball hotbeds. Some teams have been constantly very good in both public and private high school basketball. Memphis East has won the state championship eight times which is the second most in the state with their most recent being 2017, and then behind them is White Station who has won 5 state titles with the most recent being in 2009 and then behind them is Briarcrest, Ridgeway, and Hamilton all tied at 4. Bartlett has won two state titles, and is the favorite to win it again this year led by Five star junior prospect DJ Okorth. Houston also has a good chance to win the state championship. They won their first and only in 2021 led by Tennessee Mr. Basketball in Mason Miller (not the MLB player). The top Recruits in Memphis today are Dylon Jones (senior) four star from Bartlett, Jordan Frison (senior) four star from Houston, Dj Okorth (junior) five star from Bartlett, and Joshua Huggins (junior) four star from Briarcrest.

In football although Memphis is not as good necessarily it still has been solid with Memphis University School (MUS) and Evangelical Christian School (ECS) are the best programs winning five state titles each. Memphis is also home to four star football recruit Tae Warden committed to Oregon, and 3 star prospect Khamoni Williams who is playing for Auburn next season. In the district MUS has won the most district titles in Football with 27 total.

In other sports such as Lacrosse MUS has won the most in the state with 15 state titles. In Soccer CBHS has won the most with 11, in baseball CBHS has won 13. CBHS in baseball also just had a guy named Will Brick who was drafted in the fourth round of the MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. MUS has won the most Tennis State Championships with 16. MUS has won the most golf state championships with 9. Houston has won the most cross country state championships with 3. Memphis Central has won the most track state championships with 10.

Memphis has consistently shown throughout the years that although basketball may be the Memphians biggest sport, and the culture in the city, Memphis still is accomplished at all high school sports. These other sports also deserve credit for example MUS lacrosse has won more state titles than any other high school in Memphis has won basketball state titles. Showing that Memphis is just one of the best sports cities in the country.