Bartlett’s Dylan Jones brings a lot to the table.
The 6-foot-6, four-star guard is a three-level scorer (16.1 points per game as a junior in 2025-26). A high-energy two-way player (4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals last season). A leader who impacts winning (powering the Panthers to a 35-3 record and a state title).
Will Jones bring his coveted collection of attractive traits to Memphis basketball? Coach Penny Hardaway — who has been recruiting him for more than a year, having initially offered on May 19, 2025 — and his staff recently booked Jones for an official visit. It is one of four currently on his schedule (Ole Miss, Providence and Texas A&M being the others), and the Tigers are first up, hosting him on Sept. 4.
“Memphis has been really, really consistent
with me and my family (and) the people in my circle,” Jones recently told The Commercial Appeal. “Memphis has been doing a good job of reaching out just to make sure I’m good. I’m excited to get on campus and see what it has to offer.”
What Memphis basketball means to Bartlett's Dylan Jones
Apart from his tangible assets, Jones represents something of an elusive commodity for Hardaway. For all of his recruiting success — namely, two No. 1 classes since 2019, a feat matched or bested only by Kentucky and Duke since then — the ninth-year coach has never signed a top-50 prospect who has been born-and-bred in the Memphis area.
Former East High star James Wiseman (the No. 1 recruit in 2019) and former Lausanne star Moussa Cisse (No. 9 in 2020) were transplants from Nashville and Guinea, West Africa, respectively. Of all the homegrown products Hardaway has signed, DJ Jeffries (Olive Branch, Mississippi) was ranked highest at No. 52.
Jones is currently ranked 43rd overall in the Class of 2027 and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Tennessee. DJ Okoth, his Class of 2028 teammate at Bartlett, is the No. 18 prospect in his class. Braylon Williams, another Panthers standout and 2028 recruit, is ranked 160th.
Memphis is doggedly pursuing all three, something the players have discussed at length.
“I think everybody knows, I’m cool with a lot of the top players in the city,” Jones said. “So, of course, my teammates at Bartlett — DJ and Braylon — who Memphis has also offered. (Class of 2027 Houston High point guard) Justin Frison, that was my teammate for summer (with Team Thad on the Nike EYBL circuit).
“We talk about things like this. It just means a lot to us that we just have the opportunity. Because a lot of people — I mean, if I’m being honest, you’ve got to be that guy for your hometown to have faith and believe in you. We feel like it’s an honor. Personally, I feel like it’s an honor as well that a coach like Penny Hardaway, who is from Memphis, (that) he believes in Memphis kids. That means a lot.”
Has the notion of remaining teammates in their hometown at the next level been discussed?
“I don’t think our conversations have gotten that deep,” Jones said. “But we always find it kind of cool that, again, our hometown trusts us. Our hometown trusts us enough to recruit us as hard as they do.”
How Bartlett star Dylan Jones sees future playing out
Jones admits he’s also very fond of the other schools he plans to visit. New Providence coach Bryan Hodgson, when he was the head coach at Arkansas State, was the first to extend an offer to Jones in 2023. Jones has had face time with Ole Miss coach Chris Beard. And Texas A&M started coming on strong earlier this year.
But Jones has a clear vision for his future beyond his senior year at Bartlett.
“The biggest thing going to whatever college I go to, I want to make sure they have a plan for me that kind of correlates to the plan I have for myself,” he said.
Which is?
“I want to be a one-and-done,” Jones said. “I feel like I’m talented enough. I understand basketball has levels. (But) . . . I just want to go somewhere with a good development program. I want to play for a coach that pulls for his players. And I want to play for a coach that gives equal opportunities."
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Bartlett's Dylan Jones would be a recruiting first for Penny Hardaway
