There were plenty of people who thought Darius Washington was a fool for leaving the University of Memphis early to enter his name in last year’s NBA Draft. Those doubters were proved right when Washington went undrafted, then failed to make the Dallas Mavericks roster.

Washington headed overseas, then returned this season to try to make the world champion San Antonio Spurs team as a non-roster invitee. Washington clearly was a long shot with the Spurs returning point guards Tony Parker, Jacques Vaughn and Beno Udrih.

But with preseason injuries to Vaughn and Udrih, Washington took advantage of his playing time to not only get the attention of coach Gregg Popovich, but to make the Opening Day roster. His second game in a Spurs jersey will be Wednesday night at FedExForum when San Antonio comes to town for the Grizzlies home opener.

Another player with Memphis ties wasn’t so lucky. It was mind-boggling enough that former Vanderbilt star Derrick Byars lasted until the second round of this year’s draft. But last week, the former Ridgeway High player was cut by the Philadelphia 76ers. Last year’s Southeastern Conference Player of the Year is still hoping to be picked up.