Penny was almost a Hog?

[razorsharp96]

This would have made it interesting back then for sure!

https://twitter.com/espnnba/status/720812408319709185

[onebadrubi]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but he was just another reason why Nolan hated the handlers around AAU circuit and memphis?

[Pulled(PP)pork]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but he was just another reason why Nolan hated the handlers around AAU circuit and memphis?

yes, there was some shady dealings with his recruitment





PP

[greghog]

Its been a long time, but didn't he say at the time something to the effect of "the hardest part of signing with Memphis was telling Arkansas no."

That is what I recall, but could be way off base.

[Hogimus Prime]

It would've been something. If he would've been eligible for his freshman year he would've been on the 90-91 team. I think he could've been the player to put the 90-91 team and thr 91-92 teams over the top.   The 93-94 team would have been scarier with Penny on it.

[pigture perfect]

He is my player who is most regrettable. He single handedly made MSu what they were.

[The_Bionic_Pig]

He is my player who is most regrettable. He single handedly made MSu what they were.

He's #2 behind Keith Lee

[Inhogswetrust]

He is my player who is most regrettable. He single handedly made MSu what they were.

He's #2 behind Keith Lee

Ummmm. No neither did. They were good BEFORE both got there. If ANY player can be given that mantra it is Larry Finch. Even the sports media in Memphis have said things to that affect. Lee and Penny are tied for #2 since some over here say Lee and others say Penny.

[ShadowHawg]

Ummmm. No neither did. They were good BEFORE both got there. If ANY player can be given that mantra it is Larry Finch. Even the sports media in Memphis have said things to that affect. Lee and Penny are tied for #2 since some over here say Lee and others say Penny.

He meant at the time. Keith Lee absolutely was Memphis St's team early in his career there. They later added some talent around him and went to a Final Four.

Penny was the start of Memphis coming back around.

[pigture perfect]

He meant at the time. Keith Lee absolutely was Memphis St's team early in his career there. They later added some talent around him and went to a Final Four.

Penny was the start of Memphis coming back around.

Thanks Shadow. You are correct. I meant the teams he was on. I just didn't say it correctly.

[jgphillips3]

Penny truly did want to play here, but it was a business decision.  Memphis was determined to stop Nolan cherry picking the elite talent out of that city.

[Pigasaurus]

Didn't Penny's grandmother get told bad info on what was going on with some of the players back then? Maybe the deal with Todd Day.  Been long time, don't remember clearly.

[BigSexyHog]

2 biggest almost for Nolan was Penny and Otha Harrington  (think that's how it's spelled) who went to Georgetown . Scary to think about what if with these 2 as hogs

[Ugly Uncle]

Sorry, but Forrest Arnold made Memphis into what they are/were.

Look him up.  Great player back in the day.  He was a Professor of mine in college.  One of the greatest men I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

To answer the question, it was talked about in one of the games where MSU and the Hogs were playing.  How they almost ended up on the same team.  I can't remember if it was on the radio or t.v. 

This IS one of the reasons that Nolan hated AAU so much.

[ShadowHawg]

2 biggest almost for Nolan was Penny and Otha Harrington  (think that's how it's spelled) who went to Georgetown . Scary to think about what if with these 2 as hogs

Othella Harrington was in the same class as Corliss.

The bigger miss during that era was Gerald Honeycutt who went to play for Tulane.

[Pigasaurus]

Othella Harrington was in the same class as Corliss.

The bigger miss during that era was Gerald Honeycutt who went to play for Tulane.

They gave his dad a coaching job. 

[Soooie21]

So was Wayman Tisdale......

[BigSexyHog]

Othella Harrington was in the same class as Corliss.

The bigger miss during that era was Gerald Honeycutt who went to play for Tulane.

Thanks for the correct name for Othella.  I knew I was off a bit...lol

Say what you will but Harrington was very good at Georgetown but yes Honeycutt was another one that would have been a star for the Hogs.

[Hogimus Prime]

Othella Harrington was in the same class as Corliss.

The bigger miss during that era was Gerald Honeycutt who went to play for Tulane.

Nolan had another guard in the class with Corliss that didn't make it to campus his name was Michael Lloyd. He was a McDonald's All American pg out of Baltimore. He went juco then ended up at Syracuse for a year.

[ShadowHawg]

Nolan had another guard in the class with Corliss that didn't make it to campus his name was Michael Lloyd. He was a McDonald's All American pg out of Baltimore. He went juco then ended up at Syracuse for a year.

Yep, but we came out ahead on that deal with Beck.

[Hogimus Prime]

Yep, but we came out ahead on that deal with Beck.

True. Though Beck was already on campus when Lloyd signed. Would've ment no Roger Crawford. 

[BigSexyHog]

Nolan had another guard in the class with Corliss that didn't make it to campus his name was Michael Lloyd. He was a McDonald's All American pg out of Baltimore. He went juco then ended up at Syracuse for a year.

Oh wow.  I totally forgot about Lloyd.  He could play and did very well at Syracuse.   

[Hawg414]

Hardaway (memphis), Lloyd (syracuse), Harrington (georgetown), Honeycutt (tulane), Jerod Ward (michigan), Ron Mercer (kentucky), Ronnie Henderson (LSU), Jelani Gardner (california), a guard who went to TX with a name i cant remember.  Nolan signed a lot of players, but those were several of his near misses.

[Pork Twain]

Hardaway (memphis), Lloyd (syracuse), Harrington (georgetown), Honeycutt (tulane), Jerod Ward (michigan), Ron Mercer (kentucky), Ronnie Henderson (LSU), Jelani Gardner (california), a guard who went to TX with a name i cant remember.  Nolan signed a lot of players, but those were several of his near misses.

Can't sign all the players.

[onebadrubi]

Hardaway (memphis), Lloyd (syracuse), Harrington (georgetown), Honeycutt (tulane), Jerod Ward (michigan), Ron Mercer (kentucky), Ronnie Henderson (LSU), Jelani Gardner (california), a guard who went to TX with a name i cant remember.  Nolan signed a lot of players, but those were several of his near misses.

Igoudala might as well be added to this list.  Only reason he wasnt at Arkansas was because Nolan got canned.

[WizardofhOgZ]

Another "close but no cigar" was Karl Malone . . . "the Mailman" . . . lived in N. Louisiana but Sutton recruited him hard at a time Arkansas' program had emerged and was ahead of LSU - but he surprised everyone by staying in-state at Louisiana Tech.

And - yes - it was common knowledge at the time that Arkansas and Memphis were in a heated battle for Penny.  There were those that were convinced he was coming, and others that thought he would stay in Memphis.  Had boards like this existed at the time, there would have been zillions of posts on the subject.

[hawgwileywyatt]

We've gotta get back into Memphis!

[Pigasaurus]

Another "close but no cigar" was Karl Malone . . . "the Mailman" . . . lived in N. Louisiana but Sutton recruited him hard at a time Arkansas' program had emerged and was ahead of LSU - but he surprised everyone by staying in-state at Louisiana Tech.

And - yes - it was common knowledge at the time that Arkansas and Memphis were in a heated battle for Penny.  There were those that were convinced he was coming, and others that thought he would stay in Memphis.  Had boards like this existed at the time, there would have been zillions of posts on the subject.

The new chocolate brown Z-28 he drove on campus might have something to do with Karl's choice.....

[Pig in the Pokey]

Igoudala might as well be added to this list.  Only reason he wasnt at Arkansas was because Nolan got canned.

he was committed then backed out after so Nolan didn't miss on him. Omeka Okafor is another he almost had.

[Hogsolo]

This was a shocker at the time.  We all thought we had the next Memphis gem and then he DGB'd us. 

It was very disappointing. 

[ShadowHawg]

True. Though Beck was already on campus when Lloyd signed. Would've ment no Roger Crawford.

So true. Crawford was a huge part of that championship team. Could play the point and shooting guard, great energy guy, athletic, good shooter when open, etc.

Definitely worked out to our benefit. Thanks for sharing that!