Police arrested a suspect Thursday within the theft of unique sneakers from the house of College of Memphis males’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway. Ronald James, 42, was charged with theft of property, Memphis police spokesman Officer Joseph Hibler informed ESPN.
Per a Memphis police report obtained by ESPN’s Myron Medcalf, a person was captured on digital camera swiping the sneakers and pushing bins on a buying cart close to Hardaway’s $4.25 million residence on Aug. 8. The buying cart was crammed with a number of packages.
Based on Megan Fayard of Memphis TV station WREG, James allegedly stole 26 pairs of sneakers. Hardaway beforehand informed WREG that they have been “one-of-a-kind” Foamposites plus a “household and buddy unique.”
Earlier this week, police launched photographs of the suspect on-line and requested anybody who acknowledged him to contact the division. Hibler didn’t say whether or not a tip had led to James’s arrest, per Medcalf.
Nike’s Foamposite line was made well-known by Hardaway when he performed for the Orlando Magic within the Nineteen Nineties. Hardaway and Nike nonetheless have a ridiculous partnership years after the previous NBA All-Star final performed within the league.
Ronald James’ first courtroom look is Friday; it’s unknown whether or not sneakers have been recovered for Memphis males’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway
Per the Memphis police arrest database, James can have his first courtroom look associated to the theft on Friday at 9 a.m. His bond has not been set, based on Medcalf and the police database. Police didn’t say whether or not they had recovered the merchandise.
Within the mid to late Nineteen Nineties, Penny Hardaway starred within the Nike promoting marketing campaign “Lil Penny,” that includes an alter ego puppet model of the then-NBA participant, who was additionally voiced by comic Chris Rock.
On Aug. 8, 2023, Nike launched the Nike Air Max Penny 1 Lester Center Faculty editions to honor Hardaway’s Memphis center college. The sneakers characteristic black nubuck, and so they relaxation on a Phylon midsole with seen Max Air cushioning for influence safety whereas enjoying basketball.
Moreover, Hardaway performed 14 NBA seasons for the Magic (1993-99), Phoenix Suns (1999-04), New York Knicks (2004-06), and Miami Warmth (2007-08 season), averaging 15.2 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists and per sport.
Hardaway now coaches Memphis, the place he was a consensus first-team All-American earlier than leaving for the NBA in 1993. Memphis State College (now the College of Memphis) retired his No. 25 jersey in 1994. He has coached the Tigers since 2018.
