The Memphis Tigers got a ringer! With Penny Hardaway as the coach, the men’s basketball team made their first postseason appearance in the NIT game in four years. Incredible right? Hardaway’s high basketball IQ is known to everyone which led to the former NBA player spending more than five years with the Memphis Tigers. The veteran coach’s kids are also making a splash with their skills. One of his sons is on the Tigers roster under his father’s guidance.

Apart from a phenomenal career, he has the support of his caring wife and family. Here is everything we know about Hardaway’s wife and kids.

Whom did Penny Hardaway marry?

The Tigers coach is married to Mary McDonell. And no, she is not the same Academy Award-nominated actress named Mary McDonell. Many often confuse Hardaway’s wife with the Blue Chips actress. The American actress is married to Randle Mell and has two children. What complicates the differentiation is that Hardaway’s wife does not use social media. While many celebrities prefer privacy and avoid social media entirely, others opt for private profiles.

Nothing much about Mary’s background or business is known to the media. However, after her marriage to Hardaway, she became the stepmother to the NBA legend’s other kids. Before his marriage, the former NBA player dated three other women, including, Latarsha McCray and Nikki Ward.

He dated his high school girlfriend McCray for quite some time and shares two children with her, LaTanfernee Hardaway and Layla Hardaway. After some time, Hardaway dated Nikki Ward and welcomed their son Jayden Hardaway. His other son Ashton Hardaway was born to his ex-girlfriend Dionne.

While Hardaway’s wife and his daughters keep themselves away from social media attention and fame, Hardaway’s sons chose the same profession as their father which keeps them in the spotlight.

More about Penny Hardaway’s kids

Hardaway’s eldest daughter LaTanfernee was born in 1992. Both LaTanfernee and her sister Layla, who was born in Memphis, maintain privacy. Their mother Latarsha is a business owner. Meanwhile, both his sons, Jayden and Ashton were in the Memphis Tigers. However, this May, Ashton decided to transfer to Saint Mary Gaels.

“I think Saint Mary’s is a wonderful choice for him, because that’s more his style, his flow. He’s definitely, to me, is a pro. I see everything in him that he needs. He just has to continue to get the minutes, continue to get the work, and he’ll be blessed enough to have that opportunity,” Hardaway said in an interview.

In a conversation with Commercial Appeal, the former NBA player praised his son and said, “He’s, to me, arguably, one of the top shooters in the country. I’d say one of the top three shooters in the country in his class, if not No. 1. That’s his thing. He has a gift.” Before that, he played for the Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles. In his freshman year, his father and stepbrother played 30 games. Ashton started 3 games and averaged 2.3 points per game while shooting 34.3%.

Jayden is a point guard for the Memphis Tigers. As an NBA player’s son, both Jayden and Ashton have to face comparisons with their father and the constant pressure of expectations. The 6 ft 5 Tigers guard says that he wants to focus on building his own career and story.

“People love to compare me to my dad. But let’s be real — I’m not my dad. I’m not him, and he’s not me. I wear the Hardaway name on the back of my jersey with a ton of pride because of everything my dad accomplished. Don’t get me wrong……….. My dad’s story has been legendary. But this is my story. This is my path to walk,” Jayden said in Behind the Stripes.

As a coach, Hardaway has made impressive contributions using his basketball knowledge having played in the NBA for 14 years with numerous. He has played with the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat. He has also brought in significant changes in the team such as the addition of Mike Miller as assistant coach to offer proper guidance.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.