Father's Day: Memphis basketball features a few of the city's most popular hoops dads

Two fathers, both dressed in black, leaned against the wall in the corner of the Memphis University School gym and intently watched the Memphis in May Invitational Tournament. 

They talked to each other, and the strangers passing by, but kept their eyes focused on the court. 

Something was sure to happen. Then it did.

Mason Miller grabbed an outlet pass with only one defender in front of him, rose up with his left hand and punched a dunk squarely on top of the helpless player underneath the basket. 

From the same spot in the corner, his father, Mike Miller, quickly changed a stoic look for a wide-eyed did-you-see-that expression directed at fellow Memphis Tigers assistant Tony Madlock.

The blitz of pride in his son was a look that anyone would have, and a feeling many will experience over Father's Day weekend. And this year, both T.J. Madlock and Mason Miller are proud to have two of the best basketball dads around. 

"Happy Father's Day, Dad," T.J. Madlock said. "Keep pushing me and making me work hard because you are the only reason why I'm here where I'm at today."

Coach in the family

Mason Miller and T.J. Madlock play for Hoop City Basketball Club on the AAU circuit and Houston High School in the winter. 

While they will never think of their fathers as everyday trainers, there are certainly perks with having the connections in Memphis. 

"Since my dad is a coach, he gets to know a lot of people," Mason Miller said. "So we get a lot of gyms open, including Memphis' gym, sometimes we get to shoot there, too."

They get to know a lot of strangers, too. Especially the two Miller boys, Mason and Mavrick, who are used to their dad being stopped and asked for a picture. 

"I always just smile and laugh it off," Mason Miller said.

Of course, there's also the benefit of having readily-available basketball advice too, which often translates into valuable life lessons.

For T.J. Madlock, the most common message is: "Just play your game, if someone is trying to get in your head or throw you off your game then you just worry about continuing to do what you need to do."

And for Mason Miller, it echoes much of the same: "If you get mad, don't show it. College coaches don't like when you show that anger. You have got to stick to being you."

Keeping the coaches young

But like any strong father-son bond, the relationship is mutually beneficial.

The same way their fathers lend guidance in life and on the court, T.J. Madlock and Mason Miller help to keep their parents young.

"Between the college players and us, we keep them up to date with all this-century type stuff," T.J. Madlock said. "Then the conversations we have, it's nothing like old school, for us, it's not like that."

"When (Mike Miller) is hanging out with me he is always with me and my friends, so it definitely helps him keep up with the times," Mason Miller added.

As for any advantage that may give the coaches on the recruiting trail — well, the sons want no part of that. 

"That's all them," T.J. Madlock said, laughing. "They definitely know what they are doing."

Regardless, the Tigers trendiness is something recruits have noticed, including five-star freshman point guard Dior Johnson. Memphis is the only coaching staff that uses video chat instead of phone calls to talk to the recruit. 

"Sometimes I forget that Mike (Miller) is a coach," 15-year-old Johnson said in April. "He's so cool. He understands the kids, and we feel like we can say anything to him."

What does it mean to be a dad?

But it's the off-the-court, away-from-work moments as a father that will always matter the most to this Memphis coaching staff, including newest Tigers assistant Cody Toppert, who moved to the city with two young daughters. 

"Being a father is unlike anything I have ever experienced," Toppert said. "It's everything to me. My little girls — when I get home, whether I have won or lost a game and I see them — they are the biggest blessing in me and my wife's lives, for sure. Watching them grow up every day, mature, and take steps forward is really what just melts my heart."

So on Sunday, the Tigers will have a lot more to be thankful for than the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.

"Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there," Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. "(Being a dad) is great. It's a lot of responsibility, but to be able to show a young person the correct way to do things and go about life is really a blessing."