Four-star recruits Fred Smith Jr., Cello Jackson set to visit Memphis basketball, Penny Hardaway

Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers have increased high school recruiting efforts in recent months, and pretty soon, they'll be hosting two home-grown preps stars.

Briarcrest's four-star rising senior Fred Smith Jr. and Cello Jackson, another Class of 2026 four-star who won a state championship at FACS in 2024, will officially visit the Tigers from Sept. 19-21, Smith confirmed to The Commercial Appeal on July 22.

Smith, a 6-foot-7 forward and 2025 Mr. Basketball winner, was offered by Hardaway after winning the Division II Class AA state championship with the Saints in 2024. Since then, he's been a regular at Tigers home games, just as Hardaway has closely followed his high school career in Memphis.

247Sports Composite ranks Smith as the No. 2 player in Tennessee's 2026 class and the No. 73 prospect nationally. Smith, who averaged 21 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season, has received offers from Ole Miss, Missouri and Virginia among others, but told The CA he doesn't have any other visits planned at this time.

Jackson, a Memphis native, was a 2024 Division II Class A state champion at FACS before transferring to Miami, Florida's Columbus High where he saw his stock rise across a high school national championship run. He averaged 7.5 points and 3.1 rebounds alongside 2025 top-25 prospects Cameron and Cayden Boozer, twin sons of former NBA All Star Carlos Boozer.

247Sports Composite ranks the 6-foot-4 guard/forward as the No. 142 prospect nationally. He's also been offered by California, Seton Hall and Penn State among others.

Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at [email protected] or on X @wendellsjr_.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Fred Smith Jr., Cello Jackson to visit Penny Hardaway, Memphis basketball