Strange: Getting Gordon not as certain as it seems

Take Jamont Gordon, for instance.

Tennessee fans, gaining confidence since Tyler Smith's commitment, are getting antsy to complete the daily double.

Here's their case:

Gordon, the 6-foot-4 guard from Nashville and Oak Hill Academy, has been on campus the past two weekends, taking in football games on unofficial visits. Obviously, his comfort level with the coaches and players - and future players like Smith - is growing.

Furthermore, Gordon is on record saying UT and Memphis are the only schools he is considering.

Finally, the circumstantial clincher. Memphis this week landed a commitment from blue-chip point guard Chris Douglas-Roberts out of Detroit. The Tigers have five commitments and if they take another, it almost certainly won't be from a perimeter player.

The conclusion to be drawn is that the Vols are in good shape with Gordon, a five-star prospect capable of being an impact player.

But getting Gordon in orange is a two-fold challenge.

When he left Nashville's Glencliff High School last spring, his academics were shaky. Oak Hill has a track record for solidifying blue-chip prospects in the classroom, so there is hope.

Gordon is due to take the ACT in early October. After that, he can make official campus visits. Vol fans are hoping he makes only one, but that remains to be seen.

Weekend Visit: Joey Cameron, who committed to UT last summer, is the only scheduled official visitor this weekend. The unofficial visitors could include Class of 2006 stars Thaddeus Young and Brandon Powell of Memphis Mitchell.

Young, a 6-8 junior, is ranked No. 7 in the Class of '06 by RivalsHoops.com. He's attracting all the name programs, including Kentucky.

Forward Korvotney Barber of Manchester, Ga., won't make it to campus this weekend, according to a source at his school.

Opponents I: One year ago this week Tennessee was getting ready to start practice for its trip to the Dominican Republic. Now it's South Carolina's turn.

Coach Dave Odom's team will take a fall trip to Canada and began its 10 days of early practice this week. The Gamecocks have to replace three key players from a 23-win team: post Rolando Howell, forward Kerbrell Brown and point guard Mike Boynton.

Several preseason publications are picking South Carolina no better than fourth or fifth in the SEC East, which prompted Odom to say, "Maybe people thought we were a hiccup last year.''

South Carolina will surprise people again if Odom is right.

"Defensively,'' he said, "I see us being at least as good as we were last year, hopefully better. Offensively, I know we will be better.''

This is the last year for fall trips; the NCAA closed the loophole. Many coaches jumped on the bandwagon, preferring the timing over summer junkets because it's close to the start of practice and freshmen are allowed to participate.

Opponents II: Louisville is optimistic point guard Taquan Dean will be fully recovered from the lingering groin injury that limited him to 10 minutes in the Cardinals' win in Knoxville last year.

Dean had hernia surgery in June. Coach Rick Pitino also told the Louisville Courier-Journal that guards Brandon Jenkins and Larry O'Bannon are the two most improved players.

"Larry O'Bannon is going to have a phenomenal year,'' Pitino said.

The Vols visit Louisville on Jan. 22 to complete a four-year series. The Cards won the first three games by a total of seven points.

Free Throws: Jonathan Adams, who played for Chattanooga Baylor and the AAU Tennessee Travelers, has committed to Old Dominion. LSU took a commitment from Oregon point guard Ben Voogd.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.