Phillip ‘Doom’ Haynes, a cornerstone for 1980s Memphis basketball, dies at 63

• Phillip “Doom” Haynes, a Memphis basketball star in the early 1980s, has died at age 63.
• Known for his signature bankshot, Haynes helped lead the Tigers to three straight Sweet 16 appearances from 1982-84.

Phillip “Doom” Haynes, the homegrown guard who became a star for Memphis basketball in the early 1980s, died Aug. 3. He was 63.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Haynes’ well-earned nickname was bestowed upon him early on, eventually becoming a rallying cry of sorts for the thousands who filled the Mid-South Coliseum seats to see him and his signature bankshot lead the Tigers to three straight Sweet 16 appearances (1982-84). Haynes was a cornerstone for Memphis’ run of success through the 1980s. Starting with those three straight Sweet 16s, the program landed five straight March Madness bids − which remains a singular feat at Memphis.

“They started calling me ‘Doom’ as a kid because I played everything real aggressive,” Haynes said in December 1980, during his freshman season at then-Memphis State, where he wore No. 32.

“Lots of people used to think I was getting booed, but now everyone knows about it,” he said in March 1982. “The more they yell for me, the better I feel. And the better I feel, the better I want to play on the court.”

Haynes grew up in North Memphis, near Kney Street, and burst onto the scene as a 6-foot-3 prep phenom, leading Northside to back-to-back AAA state championships in 1979 and 1980. He averaged 20.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and four assists per game as a senior.

Following an up-and-down freshman season with the Tigers, Haynes blossomed into a full-fledged star. He earned all-Metro Conference honors three times and finished his Memphis career with 1,479 points − still the 13th-most in program history. His 606 career made field goals are still eighth-most by any Tiger.

The majority of Haynes’ baskets were made after a touch off the glass. Marion Brewer, his coach at Northside, is credited with helping Haynes develop his shot.

“I love glass backboards. I try to use the backboard every time that I can,” Haynes said during a March 1982 interview.

Far from a one-dimensional player, Haynes (career averages: 12.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists) was instrumental − alongside the likes of Derrick Phillips, Bobby Parks, Otis Jackson, Keith Lee, William Bedford and Andre Turner − in getting Memphis back to national prominence. During Haynes’ collegiate career, the Tigers won two Metro Conference regular-season championships and two conference tournament titles. Their NCAA tournament runs from 1982-84 were cut short by narrow losses to Villanova and Houston twice.

Haynes was a sixth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Clippers in 1984.

Not long after his Tigers career ended, Haynes was honored with a homecoming ceremony of sorts at Coleman Chapel CME Church on Kney Street.

A story in an April 1984 edition of The Commercial Appeal described it this way: “For about an hour, he was praised for what he is – the sixth-highest scorer in MSU history (1,479 points), Boys Club leader, and a rock-solid example of community pride. There were proclamations from the Tennessee General Assembly signed by the governor and from his high school, Northside. There was praise from the likes of Charles Cavagnaro, MSU’s athletic director; Tiger assistant coach Lee Fowler; and Northside coach Marion Brewer.”

During the event, Fowler did his best to sum up Haynes’ impact on the Tigers.

“This occasion is an exciting moment, but in a way it’s a little like a bad dream, because I hoped I’d never see the day when he’d be gone. It’s tough to stand up here and see this guy leave because he meant so much to this program and we all owe him so much.”

Tigers legend Elliot Perry, who played for Memphis from 1987-91, paid tribute to Haynes on social media.

“Doom was a legend and there was nothing greater than to see Doom shoot off the Glass!” Perry wrote on X. “(Memphis basketball) is forever grateful for the contributions he made to the university and city. Doom You will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN #32 …”

This article was originally published by The Commercial Appeal.