Penny Hardaway. If you’re a Memphis Tigers fan, that name hits differently. This guy didn’t just show up, he flipped the script entirely. A 10-3 record in the 2024-25 season? Well, that’s Penny for you, showing what it means to lead. We all know what he’s managed to do on the court. The real question is, how much do we know about the man off it? What about his personal life, the one shaped by four incredible kids who’ve redefined his journey in ways the scoreboard can’t capture?

So, buckle up, because this article spills the tea on this 4-time NBA All-Star Penny’s personal life. Until now you might think you know Penny but trust me, you don’t know the half of it.

Penny joined the Tigers back in 2008 as the head coach but this isn’t the first time he is in the Tigers’ dressing room. He shares a long history with the team. He has played for the Memphis Tigers from 1990-1993. During his three seasons there, he gained very popularity for his style and monster dunks.

Interestingly enough, back in the early ’90s, Penny Hardaway and his high school sweetheart, Latarsha McCray were inseparable like peanut butter and jelly. Together they welcomed two daughters, LaTanfernee Hardaway in 1992 and Layla Hardaway in 1995. But as is often the case with young love, their romance eventually fizzled out.

After Latarsha, Penny found love again with the amazing Nikki Ward. In 1999, they welcomed their son, Jayden into the world. And guess what? Jayden inherited his dad’s love for hoops. Following in Penny’s footsteps, he is now a guard for the Memphis Tigers.

Penny’s next chapter brought Dionne Richardson into the picture. Together, they welcomed their son, Ashton, a few years later. Ashton idolized his dad and they share the same passion and love for basketball which helped their bond to grow stronger. In fact, they grew so close that Penny took custody to spend even more time with his son. As a result, Ashton is now proudly rocking the Tigers jersey, carrying on the Hardaway legacy.

After a rollercoaster of ups and downs in his love life, Penny has finally found his happily-ever-after with Mary McDonnell. And wait, we’re not talking about the actress Mary McDonnell! 

What’s the most interesting part about their relationship is how perfectly they have kept it under wraps. No one really knows when or how they tied the knot, it is like their own little mystery love story. However, with Mary, Penny does not have any child yet but she is the perfect step-mom of his four children. 

Now that we’ve wrapped up the love life chapter, let’s shift gears and talk about the real difference-makers, Penny’s four amazing kids.

LaTanfernee Hardaway, 32 years old

Penny’s firstborn, LaTanfernee, was born on July 30, 1994. Today, she’s a successful entrepreneur and social media sensation. LaTanfernee runs LHXCollection, a jewelry business specializing in pendants and necklaces, which she passionately promotes on her Instagram (@tanfernee). 

Her childhood wasn’t all smooth sailing. When she was just 8 years old, her parents went through a painful split marked by abuse allegations though thankfully those were eventually resolved. Despite the challenges she faced, LaTanfernee remains close to her sister Layla and half-brothers Jayden and Ashton. With a reported net worth of $6 million, she’s clearly made a name for herself in the business world.

Although LaTanfernee doesn’t follow her father’s basketball path, she’s shown up multiple times to cheer on the Memphis Tigers, proving just how much she supports her dad. Her presence at those games is self-explanatory. she’s always there, pushing him to go beyond his limits.

Layla Hardaway, 29 years old

Layla Hardaway was born in 1995 to Penny and his former partner, Latarsha McCray. Sadly, Layla’s parents split when she was just 5 years old, following a domestic abuse case filed by her mom against Penny. After the separation, Layla and her sister were primarily raised by their mother. Penny was ordered to pay child support, though their relationship would go on to evolve over the years.

Layla keeps a super low profile. There’s barely any public info about her education, career, or personal life. She doesn’t seem to have any social media, so it’s tough to know what she’s up to or if she’s seeing anyone. She’s just keeping it quiet and living her life away from the spotlight.

Jayden Hardaway, 25 years old

Jayden Hardaway, born on July 16, 1999, is following in his dad’s footsteps, playing for the Memphis Tigers and wearing the same number his dad wore in the NBA.

Growing up, Jayden faced his own set of challenges, including battling autism. His dad Penny calls him a “walking miracle” for how far he’s come. Raised in Miami by his mom, Jayden initially wore #25 just like Penny did when he played for Memphis. Now, he’s rocking #1, the same number his dad wore in the NBA. But this is not something very unexpected as he got a personal coach from a very early age.

During an interview on ABC24Memphis, Jayden shared how his basketball journey began under his dad’s guidance. “My dad obviously started coaching me when I was around like 7 or 8 years old, you know, little church leagues around the neighborhood,” he shared.

Penny made it a priority to drill the fundamentals into Jayden from the start. As Jayden put it, “Just, you know, developing fundamentals and all that.” That early foundation paid off, shaping him into the player he is today. Though he has a long way to go, he is on the right track with the best coach there is.

Ashton Hardaway, 20 years old

Ashton Hardaway, born on July 21, 2004, is Penny’s youngest son and some say he might even outshine his legendary dad. But it wasn’t always that way. As Penny himself put it, “Ashton took himself from pretty much nothing to something, meaning he wasn’t really ranked or one of those kids everybody was talking about.”

That quickly changed. Ashton made it clear he was not just here to take up space on the court, he was here to dominate, just like his father once did. Penny said proudly, “By the time his junior and senior year came around, he made a name for himself and had a ton of scholarship offers. He’s one of those top recruits we really wanted to get here.”

Ashton Hardaway is a freshman forward, standing tall at 6’8″. His on-court talent earned him a top-tier ranking as a 4-star recruit, placing him among the top 124 players in the country. Ashton dominated in high school. During his junior year at Duncanville High School in Texas, he helped lead his team to an incredible 35-1 record and the #1 state ranking. His efforts secured their third straight 6A state title, proving he’s built for the big stage.

When it came time to choose a college, Ashton committed to the Memphis Tigers for the 2023-24 season. He turned down powerhouse programs like Kansas, Texas Tech, USC, and Oklahoma State to follow his dad’s legacy.