Tennessee basketball player JaJuan Smith has seen the future, and he's anxious to be a part of it.

"Only five guys can start next year, and obviously I'd like to be one of them,'' said Smith, arguably one of the best sixthman in the SEC last season. "But it takes more than five guys to win a game, and we have to play the role best for the team.''

Smith was among five UT basketball players to help deliver 200 turkeys (one for each blocked shot by the men's and women's team) to Knoxville's Second Harvest Food Bank on Thursday.

Former Vol C.J. Watson and walkon Ben Bosse were the other two men's players at the event, while Nicky Anosike and Dominique Redding represented the women's team.

UT coach Bruce Pearl was on the road recruiting Thursday. On Wednesday, Pearl met with his team and discussed how important it was for the returning players to embrace the competition the five-player recruiting class, which may be ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation, will bring in.

"I explained to the team our lack of depth is why we faded and why we didn't play our best ball in the end,'' Pearl said. "And depth is why Florida won the national tournament. (Joakim) Noah averaged 25 minutes a game last season.''

Smith played shooting guard and small forward last season and averaged 24 minutes and 9.5 points per game. He'd like to hold on to those minutes and score even more.

"I'd like to make a name for myself,'' Smith said. "But I know about the guys coming in. As a player, you like competition. I'll make them better, and they'll make me better.''

So long as it's done within the team concept.

Smith, one of the leaders of Tennessee's self-proclaimed "Bench Mob'' last year, said the first thing for the incoming players to understand is the importance of the Vols' team concept.

"We have to get on the same page,'' Smith said. "It takes the whole team. I think they know from watching our style of play how hard we have to work.''

Smith said the work and competition will intensify once the players are on campus and team drills begin.

"On the court, it's a business, and we're all fighting to prove ourselves,'' Smith said. "Off the court we're friends, because when another team comes in wearing different colors, we're all each other's boys.''

Pearl said he appreciates Smith's dedication and expects him to continue to play a number of minutes.

"JaJuan was very crucial to our success last year,'' Pearl said. "If he keeps working hard, he'll play a lot of minutes.''

Assistant Search: Pearl said he will continue to research the final candidates for the vacant assistant position this weekend while out on the road recruiting.

The list of candidates has been trimmed to three: Former Iowa State and Southern Cal assistant Damon Archibald, who was in Knoxville Wednesday, former Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes and ABA coach/general manager Bob Sundvold.

Kent State assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer and former TexasSan Antonio coach Tim Carter, both of whom Pearl interviewed, are no longer candidates.

"There's more work to be done,'' Pearl said. "I've talked to all the finalists, but I'm still gathering information. I'm not in a rush.''

NBA Watch: Pearl said he tries to catch as many NBA playoff games as he can to gather new ideas.

"I look at the sets, the ball screens, how they work late in the shot clock,'' Pearl said. "I also look for players our guys can identify with. Our coaches tape NBA games and let the kids see them. There are certain players our kids can emulate.''