Tony Madlock stood in a corner of the Bartlett gym wearing a South Carolina State- themed mask, watching his son TJ play in the Iverson Classic 24k showcase.

About a month from now, the father and son will leave for Orangeburg, South Carolina to start a new adventure together.

The elder Madlock, who spent three seasons on Penny Hardaway's staff at Memphis, was hired as South Carolina State's head coach in March. TJ, the state's No. 11 prospect according to 247Sports, signed with the Bulldogs last week.

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"I felt like it would be better for me because he knows me better than any coach in the country. He knows where I need to get better at. He knows how I play," TJ Madlock said. "I think he can help me better than anybody to get to where I want to be.

"And I know he's always wanted to be a head coach since he started, since I've been born really, so I'm happy that he's finally getting that opportunity and that I get to help him start his journey."

Tony Madlock, who starred at Melrose before playing with Hardaway at Memphis, said that it was a tough decision to leave his alma mater, but that he's ready for the opportunity to run his own program.

He's been coaching college basketball for over two decades with previous stops at Ole Miss, Auburn, Arkansas State, and UTEP.

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"This was my dream to get back to Memphis ever since I got in the college business 24 years ago," Tony Madlock said. "It was always a wish and a hope that I could get back to Memphis as a coach.
"I was lucky enough for it to happen when Penny got the job but it was extremely important being in this business as long as I have to get the chance to be your own boss and be a head coach and I'm able to do that now."

South Carolina State went 1-17 last season and hasn't had a winning season since 2016. But the Madlocks, who just won an NIT championship and a TSSAA state title with their respective programs, are looking to change the culture and eventually compete for a bid to the NCAA tournament.

"I'll take a little bit from each coach and each stop that I've been at and try to put it in and make it a great success to win at a high level," Tony Madlock said. "I'm going to take a lot of things from Penny. He's a guy that knows the game inside and out.

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"He's a great recruiter. I think the biggest thing I want to take from him is his relationship with his guys. His players love him and respect him and that's the main thing I want to take from him."

ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony said in a recent interview on ESPN 92.9 that TJ Madlock has a chance to be one of the best players in the MEAC conference "from Day 1" and that he's talented enough to play "anywhere."

"Just a very physical, intense versatile defender, very good athlete and made a lot of shots," Givony said. "Kind of a funky jump shot, but went through a stretch where he made five or six threes in a row and I was like 'ok, this guy does have some shot making ability too' and just played with such a high level of intensity that it really lifted up the scrimmage. I came away saying that this is a guy we've got to keep an eye on."

TJ Madlock said he's grown up working on his game with his dad, but that he's never played on a team with his dad as head coach before.