The summer months bring out the best basketball players in Memphis. Not only are the newest Memphis Tigers recruits getting adjusted, but local pros who play all over the world come back home and unite on the hardwood.
That’s usually displayed through a pro-am, but TIG founder and former Tigers basketball player Willie Kemp is bringing a 1-on-1 basketball tournament to Memphis.
Kemp’s Think It’s a Game organization is partnering with Platform Basketball to host the tournament Aug. 22-23 at the new Lester Community Center.
The tournament will feature some of Memphis’ best players. A $5,000 prize is on the line.
Kemp told The Commercial Appeal that this tournament will be the first of many with a plan to start locally then expand nationally.
Kemp has paid attention to recent hype in 1-on-1 basketball culture. A matchup between former NBA players Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson generated lots of interest on social media platforms, including players across the world chatting about the idea.
A Bolivar native, Kemp’s passion for Memphis runs deep. He played for the Tigers (2006-10), starting 64 games and making 147 appearances. He’s now coaching the Whitehaven basketball team.
This 1-on-1 tournament is another way Kemp wants to give back to the city that he says has done a lot for him.
“Even after I retired from playing, the fire never left,” Kemp said. “I kept thinking − what if there was a space for real hoopers to go head-to-head? No teams. No politics. Just 1-on-1. All heart. … That’s how TIG was born.”
The rules for the 1-on-1 tournament
Participating players will be given three to five dribbles, Kemp said. Games will be single elimination, with a champion being crowned Aug. 23.
Only 20 players will participate, even though more than double that amount showed interest.
Kemp and Platform Basketball’s Chan Douglas are looking for experienced players to round out the field. That’s one reason former Melrose standout and Louisville player Chris Jones committed to the event.
Jones is leaving for an opportunity overseas in the next week, but he didn’t want to miss the chance to be at home and play in the tournament. Jones said he has experience in 1-on-1 settings, but he also believes much of what he does will translate from his usual game in team settings.
“For me, it’s just like going in my bag,” Jones said. “It’s like clockwork for me. One-on-one shows you how good you are with limited dribbles. You got to think, and there’s no help. … For me, I play at my pace, anyway.”
Who’s playing in the 1-on-1 tournament
Kemp and Douglas believe this event is just the tip of the iceberg. Because this event came together in August, many pro basketball players already have left Memphis for their seasons overseas. Even some players who are here may be hesitant to commit since a call to play professionally could come at any moment.
The list of committed names includes Jones, Chris Crawford (Sheffield / Memphis) and Terrico White (Craigmont / Ole Miss).
“One-on-one doesn’t determine who is the best player,” Jones said. “This is for pride purposes, repping your neighborhood, the school you came from and your era of basketball.”
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.