M Club Hall of Fame
Garner, Chris
Chris Garner
- Induction:
- 2016
A native Memphian, Chris Garner became the third-consecutive point guard from Treadwell High School to sign with the late Larry Finch and began his collegiate career in 1993-94.
As a freshman, Garner started 12 of 28 games and had 179 points, 78 steals and 124 assists. He scored a career-high 23 points in a win over Texas-San Antonio his initial college campaign and, later that same season, broke the 20-point mark against Purdue and Georgetown. He was named to the Great Midwest Conference (GMC) All-Newcomer and All-Tournament teams.
The following year (1994-95), he became the starting point guard and led the Tigers to a 24-10 record and an NCAA Tournament berth. As a sophomore, he was credited with 217 assists and 90 steals in helping lead the Tigers to NCAA Sweet Sixteen. His 90 steals are a school season record, and his 217 assists rank third on the program's single-season list.
Garner's numbers grew throughout his career, and as a senior in 1996-97, he was a Frances P. Naismith Award candidate, an annual college basketball award given to the nation's top player six-foot tall or shorter. Garner scored 211 points and added 127 assists and 85 steals his senior season. Garner completed his career with a school-record 321 steals, and at the time, his 321 swipes were tied for ninth place on the all-time steals chart in NCAA Division I history. His 321 steals now are tied for the No. 25 spot on that all-time list. Garner's 639 assists are the second-most in Memphis history.
Garner was a member of three Tigers postseason squads (two NCAA Tournament/one NIT), including the program's 1995 NCAA Sweet Sixteen run.
Garner currently works as a behavioral counselor at Craigmont High School in Memphis and is the program director for the Ira Samelson Boys & Girls Club.
He and his wife, Veronica, have two children: son, Christopher, and daughter, Christyle.
As a freshman, Garner started 12 of 28 games and had 179 points, 78 steals and 124 assists. He scored a career-high 23 points in a win over Texas-San Antonio his initial college campaign and, later that same season, broke the 20-point mark against Purdue and Georgetown. He was named to the Great Midwest Conference (GMC) All-Newcomer and All-Tournament teams.
The following year (1994-95), he became the starting point guard and led the Tigers to a 24-10 record and an NCAA Tournament berth. As a sophomore, he was credited with 217 assists and 90 steals in helping lead the Tigers to NCAA Sweet Sixteen. His 90 steals are a school season record, and his 217 assists rank third on the program's single-season list.
Garner's numbers grew throughout his career, and as a senior in 1996-97, he was a Frances P. Naismith Award candidate, an annual college basketball award given to the nation's top player six-foot tall or shorter. Garner scored 211 points and added 127 assists and 85 steals his senior season. Garner completed his career with a school-record 321 steals, and at the time, his 321 swipes were tied for ninth place on the all-time steals chart in NCAA Division I history. His 321 steals now are tied for the No. 25 spot on that all-time list. Garner's 639 assists are the second-most in Memphis history.
Garner was a member of three Tigers postseason squads (two NCAA Tournament/one NIT), including the program's 1995 NCAA Sweet Sixteen run.
Garner currently works as a behavioral counselor at Craigmont High School in Memphis and is the program director for the Ira Samelson Boys & Girls Club.
He and his wife, Veronica, have two children: son, Christopher, and daughter, Christyle.
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