The sun beamed through the glass entrance Thursday at Crosstown Concourse Gym as fans began to file in for a late afternoon matchup at the Shelby County Pro-Am, which featured the likes of Chris Crawford, brothers Chandler and Dedric Lawson, and Lester Hudson.

However, the star of the evening was not a former NBA player or previous five-star Memphis Tigers recruit. It was the former Tigers point guard Alex Lomax, who ran the show for Penny Hardaway's team from 2018-22, who dazzled attendees in leading his Grit ‘N Grind squad to an 86-78 victory with a team-high 26 points and 10 rebounds.

After the game, he spoke exclusively with the Commercial Appeal about his post-college journey, going from Greensboro, North Carolina, to northern Europe and finally returning to his Binghampton roots.

Lomax had never lived outside Memphis before his stint with the Charlotte Hornets G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm. He was announced as part of the Swarm's training camp roster on Oct. 29 before being waived in late November.

He expressed gratitude and admiration to the Hornets for the opportunity. He saw the day-to-day grind of players on NBA two-way contracts. And the thin margins between the G League and the NBA inspired him, unlocking a new level of work ethic.

Although North Carolina wasn’t a big adjustment, the true test came when he signed to play with Sparktak Pleven in Bulgaria last year. Lomax says Memphis coach Penny Hardaway was a mainstay, communicating with him constantly during his time overseas, and he plans to play professionally somewhere next year.

“To go to northern Europe for eight months, with an eight-hour time difference, people barely speaking English, it was a big adaptation for me," Lomax said. "But overall, it was a great experience. I learned a lot about myself and did a lot of self-reflection. So I felt like that was probably one of the best chapters of my life, just to grow as a man.”

Since his return from Bulgaria a month ago, Lomax has reconnected with Hardaway, working out with him on a daily basis. Their relationship is more than just player and coach; it’s a bond that resembles a father-son dynamic, a mentorship and a brotherhood all rolled into one.

As much as Lomax thrilled fans within FedExForum, he wants to be equally impactful in the community. After graduating from Memphis with a business administration degree, he has big plans to help contribute to the city.

"Getting into real estate, talking to a lot of people in the city, and, just trying to help the community as much as I can, and just build a lot of great areas for the city," Lomax said. "Just trying to do the best I can to make the city of Memphis a better place.”

As for the future of this season's Tigers squad, Lomax is optimistic. He likes the construction of the roster overall, and he believes the team is poised to return to the NCAA tournament.

“I feel like this team coming up, they got some pretty good pieces, and they're going to be able to show it," he said. "Coach has done a great job of putting the players in the right position, in the right situations, and I really feel like, you know, Tiger Nation is gonna make a lot of noise."

Reach sports writer Josh Crawford at joshua.crawford@commercialappeal.com or on X at @JCrawford5656

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Alex Lomax back in Memphis after basketball journey to Bulgaria