It's a fact that the city of Memphis produces some of the best basketball players in the nation.
No matter what city says it has the best basketball around -- New York, Chicago, Detroit, Indiana -- Memphis is the mecca of basketball as we know it.
Just take a look around the NBA -- better yet, take a peek at the ABA.
Three former Tigers are currently going through training camp for the Memphis Houn'Dawgs, of the American Basketball Association professional basketball league.
Detric Golden, Jimmie "Snap" Hunter, and Justin Wimmer are among 18 players vying for one of 12 spots on the team.
The ABA premiered three different teams in Memphis during the 1970s, including the Pros (1970-72), the Tams (1972-74), and the Sounds (1974-75) before the league folded.
Several NBA teams have emerged from the ABA, such as the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets and the Denver Nuggets.
Wimmer, who was a Tiger from 1993-95, said he has spent the last six years playing overseas in Europe, South America and Asia.
"I just got back from Colombia about a month ago," he said. "I think the ABA is a great opportunity. I just want to make the team and come in like I did for The U of M and give 110 percent."
Some skeptics say the ABA can not compete with the 'Memphis Magic' surrounding the Calipari era.
But Wimmer disagrees.
"It will do well because it gives the city another facet of basketball," he said. "It gives older fans an opportunity to see how we're doing now. Plus it's a totally different style of play."
Wimmer said he also is looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd again, which was his reason for choosing to play at The University of Memphis.
"To play again at an older age gratifies me even more," he said. "I can enjoy the opportunity more."
Hunter also said he is ready to play in front of fans, family and friends, but is using this opportunity as a stepping stone to the NBA.
"I believe it will be my first step," Hunter said. "Whatever it brings, I'm looking forward to getting to the league."
Hunter has tried out at NBA camps for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Indiana Pacers but has been unsuccessful in finding a fit.
He only played in 20 games at Memphis during 1998-99 season after sitting out three semesters because of academic ineligibility.
But once he came on, he averaged 16.2 points per game as a shooting guard before leaving the team because of grades.
The next season he went to Life University in Marietta, Ga., where he led the team to a NAIA National Championship, averaging 22.1 ppg.
He said college is a good experience for anyone, and it is best for a high school player to go to college and "learn the basic fundamentals of the game." Hunter was one of the top high school players in nation while playing for Trezevant High School.
"It was a good thing while it lasted," he said of his days at Memphis. "It was pretty good and I loved playing in front of my hometown. I hope everyone will come out and support me the same way when I was playing for Memphis."
Golden, a transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College, also spent one season at The U of M in 1997-98 as a point guard.
Although he averaged 14.2 ppg and 3 assists, he decided to move on to Troy State because he felt limited by former head coach Tic Price.
Golden told the Commercial Appeal on Nov. 9 that "(Price) was used to the traditional point guard being the assist guy. But like I said, I'm not a traditional point guard."
The rich history of the ABA parallels the history of not only U of M
players, but coaches as well.
Acclaimed former U of M coaches Gene Bartow and Larry Finch will hold down the front office for the Houn'Dawgs.
Bartow, the only coach to take Memphis to a NCAA title game in 1972-73 against UCLA and John Wooden, is president and general manger, while Finch, the winningest coach in U of M history, is the team's director of player personnel.
The Houn'Dawgs' season will gear up Dec. 9 with a road game at St. Louis. Their home games will be played at the Desoto Civic Center.
