Rookie point guard Mike Conley participated in a second straight contact practice, and continued to provide encouraging signs that his return is near.

Head coach Marc Iavaroni and the medical staff said Thursday that the decision for Conley to resume play in an NBA game will be mostly up to Conley. The fourth overall draft pick said he isn’t working with a specific timetable.

He simply wants to feel confident that his right shoulder can absorb routine physical punishment. Conley’s shoulder received high marks during one sequence when he set a hard pick to free up a teammate for an open jump shot.

Looking for a high school game to watch during the holiday break? If so, here is a schedule of some of the local tournament games.

Local Basketball Tournaments

Dragon Fire Girls Invitational
At Collierville High School

Dec. 26
First round
Northside 88, Fayette-Ware 63
White Station 61, Manassas 48
Bolton 61, Hamilton 51
Fairley 59, Houston 47
Millington 57, Kirby 22
St. Agnes 59, Byhalia 46
Germantown 70, Raleigh-Egypt 33
Collierville 57, Northwest 19
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There is a good story in this morning’s Philadelphia Daily News with more information on the shooting involving Tigers recruit Tyreke Evans, which came to light last weekend.

It appears as though authorities have now ruled out a charge against Tyreke Evans, who was driving the car from which gunshots were fired on Nov. 25, killing a 19-year old in the Philadelphia area. The shooter, Jamar Evans (Tyreke’s cousin), has turned himself into authorities.

My sources have indicated that this incident won’t have an impact on the Tigers’ recruitment of Evans, assuming the situation is as it appears to be. But certainly, whichever program gets Evans will take a public relations hit and have some questions to answer. Though Evans may not have been directly involved in the crime, he clearly got caught up in the middle of gang-related activity, which brings up a whole set of issues that must be addressed by both Evans and the program he goes to.