J&J Show--Hour 1 Friday 4/10/26--Memphis Tigers & Penny secure Fred Smith, FedEx, & it's kinda historic + John's motivational speech for the Grizz Tank

·45 min·4 clips

Fred Smith Jr. is the first top-100 Memphis high school kid to commit to Penny Hardaway's Tigers—why did it take so long?

The episode begins with hosts Jason Smith and John Martin celebrating the University of Memphis basketball program's commitment from Fred Smith Jr., a top-100 prospect from Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis. They detail how this is the first Memphis-born, Memphis-high-school-educated top-100 player to commit to Memphis under coach Penny Hardaway, highlighting it as a historic moment after a five-year drought. The hosts discuss the importance of local talent for program momentum and retention, comparing it to past misses like Kennedy Chandler. They mention upcoming interviews with Hitman Hoops on transfer portal updates and Anthony Sainz on Grizzlies topics. The show shifts to the NBA, focusing on the Memphis Grizzlies' final game against the Utah Jazz, dubbed a 'tank war' where both teams aim to lose for better draft lottery odds. Hosts list extensive injury reports for both teams, emphasizing the lack of star players. John Martin delivers a mock motivational speech urging Grizzlies players to lose intentionally. They analyze the stakes: a loss could secure the sixth-best lottery odds, while a win might drop them to eighth. The hosts speculate on player motivations, noting former Grizzlies like Kennedy Chandler and John Conchar may want to prove themselves. Later, they address a Scoop B report that Ja Morant was the only Grizzlies player not allowed to give away his jersey on Fan Appreciation Night, discussing potential organizational friction and communication issues. The episode includes ads for DSW, Thumbtack, 8sleep, Robin Hood, Noom, Carvana, Black Tie Moving, T-Mobile, UnitedHealthcare, Lowe's, Kia, and Graybar. Throughout, the tone is conversational and focused on Memphis sports, blending analysis with local insights.

As heard by us

Fred Smith Jr.'s Memphis move turns into a grounded look at Penny, portal money, and FedEx's possible impact.

Memphis' Friday episode frames Fred Smith Jr.'s move to the University of Memphis as the first step in a larger roster question, not the end of the story.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want to know what Fred Smith Jr.'s Memphis decision could mean once the portal budget starts shaping the room around him.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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