Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway recently donated $1 million to the Memphis athletics department to construct a sports hall of fame. The former NBA star’s gift is the largest single donation made by a former Tiger to the athletics department.

The hall of fame is part of a “Building for Today’s and Tomorrow’s Tigers,” a project that includes the new softball stadium, a golf center, a tennis center, renovations of the baseball facility and the expansion of  the athletics office building by 20,000 square feet. The hall of fame will be located in the expanded office building space.

Hardaway graduated from Memphis in 2003, 10 years after he joined the NBA.

“This is an exciting time,” said Athletics Director R.C. Johnson. “As all of you know, this is not the best of times financially for anybody, and everyone is certainly looking for any type of help they can get. One of our most distinguished alums, and certainly one of our best basketball players has informed us that he wants to help and he wants to do something that's pretty significant for us and our school. With this donation, we have decided to name the Hall of Fame after Penny Hardaway.”

Connecticut chooses architect for basketball project

HOK Sport, Inc., will serve as architect and designer for a new men’s and women’s basketball practice facility at Connecticut and will develop plans for the relocation of Monroe Stadium, which houses the Huskies’ men’s and women’s soccer teams.

In addition to practice space, the basketball facility will also include areas for academic support, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, video services and coaches offices. The department has received $5 million in commitments for the building.

The soccer stadium proposal would move Monroe Stadium to the existing Memorial Stadium site.

The timelines for both projects have not been set.