The crowd started to file in at the Orange Mound Community Center for the Shelby County Pro-Am Tuesday night, and one name in particular had people buzzing.

Alex Lomax, the former Memphis Tigers basketball guard, has been spending the past six weeks in the gym working on his game in hopes of continuing his career at the professional level.

“You know what they say: 'Chop wood, carry water,' ” Lomax said.

Though Lomax’s team lost, he set the defensive tone early with two steals and finished with 23 points and three assists. He was supposed to play with the Beale Street Boys in The Basketball Tournament earlier this month, but an injury forced him to miss the team's two games. So this pro-am experience has been crucial for the Memphis native as he figures out what comes next.

Being around professionals like Cameron Payne, Kennedy Chandler, Adonis Thomas and Antonius Cleveland has shown him "where I’m trying to get to," Lomax said. "I feel like we are all great basketball players and they’re depending on the same thing from the same city. We’re going to make the city proud.”

“I have a story to tell,” he added. “It’s just a small portion of it right now and I can’t wait to finish it.”

Lomax, of course, spent the past five years playing for Memphis after starring at East High School under Penny Hardaway. This will be the first time since the start of middle school he and Hardaway haven't been together on a basketball team.

But Lomax feels that his time at Memphis with Hardaway helped him mature and showed him how he can make a difference in the community.

“I feel like I’m at a point where the city molded me to where I can tie into relationships,” Lomax said. “I believe I can lead the next generation in the right direction. My time in Memphis has built a mindset where I can do that confidently.”

The journey between Lomax and Hardaway isn't over yet, either. They're still spending many hours in the gym together. Lomax said as soon as school was over this year, he and Hardaway held a three-week training camp.

More: Kennedy Chandler reflects on what happened with Memphis Grizzlies, next stop in NBA journey

Lomax added that now that he doesn’t have school, the two get a chance to become closer off the court and focus in the gym.

As Lomax continues to pursue his professional dreams, Hardaway has given him some sound advice.

“Just stay true to it. Always stay in love with it and just be yourself,” Lomax said. “Remember your reason, remember your passion and I will remember everything that you’ve been through.”

Reach sports writer Jerry Jiang at JJiang@gannett.com or on Twitter @j_jiang30

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Penny Hardaway helping Alex Lomax keep pro basketball dreams alive