Former fan favorite "Root" releases book on his Memphis basketball journey

Barron went on to play parts of eight seasons in the NBA, winning an NBA championship along the way with the Miami Heat, but for Root, his basketball career ended when the buzzer sounded.

"I came in with him day one, and so, that last game in the NCAA tournament, I was bawling crying," Root said. "It was done for me, you know. I knew it was over."

Root's career at Memphis was an unconventional one. He had no offers coming out of high school, joined the team as a walk-on and played as a scholarship player for two seasons, after earning a scholarship from coach John Calipari at the end of his sophomore season.

Now, 22 years after his time as a Tiger came to a close, Root is releasing a book, Root: A Memphis Hoops Dream.

"Man, I’ve wanted to do this for a while now," Root said. "I think my story is inspirational. It's motivating, and I want to get it out there."

His story started in McNairy County, just south of Jackson, Tennessee, where he fell in love with basketball.

Root averaged nine points and five assists a game as a senior for Adamsville High School. His future in basketball looked unlikely.

"I always was a big Memphis fan, big Memphis fan. I came out un-recruited, nobody, no NAIA JV, no JUCO, nothing," Root said.

After a talk with his father, he came up with a plan.

"He said, 'where do you want to go play?'" Root said. "Hell, I want to go play at Memphis."

So, Root enrolled at the University of Memphis, and he went to walk-on tryouts to try to earn his way onto the team. He made a strong impression on then head coach Johnny Jones, and became a walk-on.

During his sophomore year, Memphis brought in John Calipari. After a long season, Root learned that he would be a scholarship player.

"At the end of that year, we were at his (Calipari's) house, and it was one of those moments you see on TV," Root said. "Coach said, 'Oh guys, one last thing, we’re putting Root on full scholarship.'"

Fittingly, with Root's book available to purchase this month on Amazon, Coach Calipari, who wrote the foreword, is coming back to Memphis as head coach of Arkansas on October 27. His Razorbacks will play Memphis in the Hoops for St. Jude Tip-Off Classic, and many of his former players, Root included, are expected to attend.

"Everything just blew up for me," Root said of the timing. "This (the book) has been a year and a half, two-year process, and the stars are aligning."

Root, a Memphis fan since birth, hopes and expects Tigers fans to show their appreciation for coach Calipari, despite the not-so-pleasant end to his tenure as Memphis' head coach.

"I really hope that the city will embrace the success that he provided to us," Root said. "I tell people this all the time: Guys if he never left, Penny wouldn’t be the coach here. Your hometown hero would not be the coach if Cal was still here. Things happen for a reason."

The book includes stories from Root's four years as a Tiger, from locker room tales to quotes from his coaches.

In his foreword, coach Calipari wrote, "This book is more than a basketball story - it's a testament to belief, perseverance, and purpose. And if you're lucky, it just might light a fire in you, too."

For Root, his book is meant to inspire people of all ages and to thank the city of Memphis for all the support he received over the years.

"It’s been 22 years, and people still remember," Root said. "It's been humbling to hear the comments and people reaching out through this process."

Today, Nathaniel Root is an author, but he started as a kid with a dream to play basketball for the University of Memphis. His story, at its core, is of a kid living his dream.

"I’ve loved Memphis basketball ever since I was born, since I can remember breathing," Root said. "This city embraces you. When you come here and you're a Memphis Tiger, this city treats you like you're one of their own."

Sam McCormick can be contacted at smccrmc5@memphis.edu.