Like Father, Like Son

With Jake McDowell growing up in a University of Memphis family, it was a slam dunk that he'd attend the hometown school, whether he played basketball or not.

All he knew from birth was Memphis. His father, Hank, was a Tigers radio analyst when Jake was a kid, so Jake was around the program. Jake's favorite player?

"As a kid, Kelly Wise was my favorite," said Jake. "I just liked the way he played."

So ingrained was Jake in cheering on the Tigers that he did something almost unthinkable as a kid.

"I went to Duke's basketball summer camp, and near the end of the week, Coach Krzyzewski took pictures with each camper," Jake said. "I have this picture of me and Coach Krzyzewski, and I'm wearing my Memphis basketball shirt."

So, Jake was set for Memphis when college rolled around, right?

"I was actually going to attend Arkansas," Jake said. "I was going there as a student and not play basketball. Some high school friends and I went on a visit, and I loved it."

It was off to Fayetteville. Or so he thought until Memphis entered the picture – in an odd sort of way.

Jake's father, Hank, was a standout for the Tigers from 1977-81. A two-time All-Metro Conference selection, Hank led Memphis in rebounding in the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons.

Naturally, Jake would follow his father's path? Well, Jake did choose Memphis, but it took an assist from another former Tiger, Preston Laird, who played for Memphis from 2008-12. Laird, a walk-on himself, thought Jake would be another quality candidate.

"I first talked with Hank because I had known him for a long time," Laird said. "I asked Hank if Jake was planning to play basketball in college. At that time, Hank thought Jake was leaning toward getting out of the game.

"I told Hank that Jake would be a good walk-on at Memphis. Hank thought it was a good idea, but he wasn't going to bring it up because he wanted Jake to make his own decision. Hank, though, said Jake might be receptive to the idea."

So, Laird went to work during a golf outing at a local course.

"I knew Jake liked to play golf," Laird recalled. "During our round, I talked to him about it. I told him how special my experience was. He thought it over and called me back and said, 'Preston, this is something I'm interested in.'"

Jake said, "We went to play golf, and Preston asked me if I had thought about it. I told him I was going to be a regular college student or play ball at a small school. He got me hooked up with the Memphis coaches, and the rest is history."

But, Jake's story in pursuing the Memphis option had no extra assistance from his father. Hank wanted Jake to make his own college decision, and now he wanted his son to earn his spot.

"After they played golf, Jake came home and told me he was going to try it," Hank said. "I remember the first words out of my mouth, 'That's cool, but I can't help you.' This was something he had to do on his own."

Jake did, and after he and the Memphis coaches talked, and he was offered a spot. Jake was a part of the program, but it was going to require hours of hard work – something Hank and Laird both told him.

"When Preston asked if he could talk to Jake, I said ok, but he had to tell him the truth," said Hank.

Laird agreed, "When we talked, I didn't sugarcoat anything. I told him this would be the hardest thing he would go through. The way he handled everything I threw at him with such maturity and class, I saw he'd be a good fit. Turns out, he's played some meaningful minutes and helped them win some games."

Jake's seen action in nearly 50 career games. It's the game action that has validated his college choice for him and his family.

"It took a month into his freshman year when the coaches realized Jake could help them," said Hank. "Then, when you play in 24 games in a season, it really proved his worth."

Another instance that proved Jake made the right decision was a preseason meeting with head coach Tubby Smith.

"We were in his office, and then out-of-nowhere, Coach said, 'We're placing you on scholarship.' I was stunned and happy at the same time," said Jake, who graduates in May with an international business degree. "It was a culmination of everything that's happened for me here."

Jake's mother, Carol, agreed, "It was overwhelming. We know that he's worked hard, and we're proud for him. Getting the scholarship acknowledged all of his contributions to the program."

Hank added, "For Coach Smith to do that was outrageously crazy. He didn't have to do that for a senior walk-on. It was affirmation that his time here was well spent."

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