Memphis Mourns Passing of Tiger Great Phillip “Doom” Haynes
Aug 05, 2025 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Basketball community is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved legends. Phillip "Doom" Haynes, the homegrown guard whose signature bank shot and fierce competitive spirit made him a cornerstone of the Tigers in the early 1980s, passed away on August 3. He was 63.
A proud product of North Memphis, Haynes rose to prominence at Northside High School, where he led the Cougars to consecutive Class AAA state championships in 1979 and 1980. A 6-foot-3 playmaker with a talent for using the glass, he averaged 20.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior before continuing his career at then-Memphis State.
Haynes arrived on campus in 1980 and quickly emerged as a key figure in the Tigers' return to national relevance. After a developmental freshman season, he became an integral part of a Memphis team that reached three straight NCAA Sweet 16s from 1982 to 1984 and appeared in five consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
Haynes earned All-Metro Conference honors three times and finished his four-year career with 1,479 points, which remains 13th-most in school history. His 606 made field goals rank eighth all-time, and he still stands among the top 10 in career minutes played (3,790).
Nicknamed "Doom" at age 9 while playing sandlot football, Haynes found his true calling on the basketball court. His high-arcing bank shot became both his signature and a symbol of hope for Tiger Nation.
During Haynes' tenure, the Tigers captured two Metro Conference regular-season titles, two conference tournament championships, and compiled a 73-20 record from 1981-84. The 1982 NCAA Tournament appearance marked Memphis' first in six years and only its second since the 1973 national championship game run.
Following his college career, Haynes was selected in the sixth round of the 1984 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
A proud product of North Memphis, Haynes rose to prominence at Northside High School, where he led the Cougars to consecutive Class AAA state championships in 1979 and 1980. A 6-foot-3 playmaker with a talent for using the glass, he averaged 20.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior before continuing his career at then-Memphis State.
Haynes arrived on campus in 1980 and quickly emerged as a key figure in the Tigers' return to national relevance. After a developmental freshman season, he became an integral part of a Memphis team that reached three straight NCAA Sweet 16s from 1982 to 1984 and appeared in five consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
Haynes earned All-Metro Conference honors three times and finished his four-year career with 1,479 points, which remains 13th-most in school history. His 606 made field goals rank eighth all-time, and he still stands among the top 10 in career minutes played (3,790).
Nicknamed "Doom" at age 9 while playing sandlot football, Haynes found his true calling on the basketball court. His high-arcing bank shot became both his signature and a symbol of hope for Tiger Nation.
During Haynes' tenure, the Tigers captured two Metro Conference regular-season titles, two conference tournament championships, and compiled a 73-20 record from 1981-84. The 1982 NCAA Tournament appearance marked Memphis' first in six years and only its second since the 1973 national championship game run.
Following his college career, Haynes was selected in the sixth round of the 1984 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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