PHOENIX -- Penny Hardaway left Memphis State for a seven-figure NBA salary, not because he was tired of school.

Through 10 years at basketball's highest level, the Phoenix Suns guard kept plugging away at his degree requirements. His persistence will pay off Sunday, when the renamed University of Memphis awards Hardaway a bachelor's degree in professional studies at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tenn.

The 31-year-old star's college career began in The Pyramid on Nov. 29, 1991, against DePaul.

The university retired his No. 25 to the rafters just over two years later, celebrating a career during which he averaged 20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists and won consecutive Great Midwest Conference player of the year awards.

Hardaway, who had a 3.4 grade point average at the time, left for the NBA in 1993. Golden State selected him third overall, then traded him to Orlando, where he spent the first six seasons of his professional career.

Phoenix acquired Hardaway on Aug. 5, 1999, and he played the last four seasons with the Suns.