Tennessee's basketball program held an open house Saturday morning as the Vols played a pickup game at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Former players were there for the lettermen's reunion.

Some of the top recruits for new UT coach Bruce Pearl were there.

Several hundred UT fans watched the game before heading to the Vols' football opener at Neyland Stadium.

"We're trying to get more fans to come out this year," sophomore guard Chris Lofton said. "I know last year was disappointing for Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, but hopefully we'll build on this and be better."

The pickup game lasted less than 90 minutes.

"It's a good thing for us and all the fans just to show them that we're going to try to have a good year with the new coach and everything," senior point guard C.J. Watson said. "We're trying to bring a new energy."

Visiting recruits, like Bolivar Central High School point guard Willie Kemp, watched the pickup game, but under other circumstances would have been allowed to play.

Pearl said if the building had been closed to the public, he would have allowed the recruits to play in the pickup game - but he and the assistant coaches couldn't have been standing courtside by NCAA rules.

"On an official visit situation, they could play," Pearl said, "but there are a couple of things that would exist. First of all, because this is sort of a big weekend, and the building is open to the public right now, we just don't want to bring much attention to our recruits, whereas I'm happy to bring some attention, in this situation draw some attention to our team and our current players.

"There's sort of a fine line in there. But it's OK for (recruits) to be there and watch it and let them walk in and see 1,000 people in the building just checking out the basketball team in August playing pickup."

Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt spoke to several of Pearl's recruits. Summitt's team had a workout prior to the Vols' pickup game.

"She knows what time it is and she knows how she built her program," Pearl said. "Pat and Phillip (Fulmer, Vols football coach), that's the face of Tennessee athletics. My recruits, if you asked them, 'If you had a choice of sitting down and talking to me or talking to Pat Summitt,' I guarantee you they'd tell you Pat.

"It's really neat that she takes the time."

Also making an official visit to UT this weekend Bolivar standout Wayne Chism, who has already committed to the Vols.

Kemp said he plans to make official visits to Arkansas, Kentucky, and Memphis.

"I think Knoxville's a great place," he said. "There's a lot of good people up here and it's a good school."