Pearl shoots down Lofton rumors

Thursday's Internet special was that rising sophomore Chris Lofton was going to leave the Vols and transfer to another school.

Pearl caught wind of the rumor just prior to boarding a plane bound for Las Vegas, where he'll be attending a basketball tournament in search of sophomore and junior prospects.

"Now, where did this information come from?'' Pearl wanted to know. "Because Chris Lofton leaving is as far-fetched as the sun not coming up tomorrow.''

Pearl said there was a point shortly after his hire that Lofton may have been considering leaving the Vols, but that was long ago.

"Chris came in on Sunday and is just now headed home today,'' Pearl said. "He has been home over the summer, but he lost a cousin to a car accident and his dad was sick.''

Lofton's father had a mild heart attack July 9.

The rumor is par for the course as Tennessee basketball continues to get more attention since the outspoken Pearl was hired.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said he has never heard so much talk and anticipation about UT basketball in the month of July.

Pearl hopes this recruiting trip to watch sanctioned adidas, Nike and Reebok camps in Las Vegas and Orlando will lead to more reasons for fans to get excited.

"It used to be you'd get off the beaten path to recruit, go to some playgrounds and towns to find players,'' Pearl said. "Now, you follow the players at these events. You can only go to sanctioned events or if a high school coach has an open gym and is in attendance.

This is the second evaluation period this month; it runs between July 22-31.

"There's no contact or communication with the player,'' Pearl said. "You can only call their high school coach.''

Meanwhile, Pearl is sure to be taking more calls from various about more rumors until his season starts.

"Hey,'' Pearl said with a laugh, "at least they're talking about us.''