Although he was officially listed as 6-foot-2, Tony White seemed like a little guy on the basketball court two decades ago.

But, man, did he put up some big numbers.

Like the 2,219 points he scored for Tennessee from 1984-87.

Like the 51 points he dumped on Auburn his senior year, a school record that hasn't been approached since.

Like the 24.5 points he averaged per game in 1986-87 to lead the SEC for the second consecutive year. No Vol has matched that average since.

"I just enjoyed playing basketball," said White with a shrug and his trademark smile.

"I was just a kid that took advantage of his opportunities."

White will have the opportunity to enter the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame on July 27.

The Charlotte, N.C., native arrived at Tennessee unheralded, became one of the SEC's most prodigious scorers and then carved out a pro career trotting the globe.

When it was time to quit six years ago, White settled back in Knoxville and for the past three years has worked for Wackenhut, a security contractor in Oak Ridge.

The basket was anything but secure when White was on the court. Although his career never included an NCAA tournament, he produced more than his share of highlights.

In retrospect, his UT career might be underappreciated.

When he played his final game, White had climbed to No. 5 on the all-time SEC scoring chart behind Pete Maravich, John Stroud, Chuck Person and Ernie Grunfeld.

In the 19 years since, only Allan Houston has bumped him down to No. 6.

"That's a great accomplishment," White said. "But that's something to this day I've never sat down and thought about.

"Once I sit back and think about it, I'm just amazed. Because I surprised myself."

He surprised everybody. Due in part to his slight frame, he wasn't a major recruit.

Just when it appeared he might have to settle for a small Division 1 school, several big-timers got involved.

Auburn almost signed him. Kansas and Tennessee rushed in with late offers of visits.

"I looked at the map," White said, "because my biggest thing was having my family see me play."

He broke into the starting lineup midway through his freshman year. After two years that included some philosophical head-butting with coach Don DeVoe, White broke out as a junior and led the SEC with a 22.2 average.

"At first," said White, "it was tough. He was a defensive coach.

"But the relationship was built on I'm trusting him and he started trusting me.

"Even though he probably didn't like some of the shots, I'm still making a good percentage."

White was a marked man his senior year, but that didn't slow him down. He scored 30 or more points nine times.

The school-record night was no fluke. He built up to it with 39 points against Southern Cal and 49 against Florida State.

Ron Widby's record of 50 points had stood for 20 years until Valentine's Day, 1987, when Auburn visited Stokely Athletics Center.

White went 15 of 20 from the field and 18 of 19 from the free-throw line. He was also 3-of-3 behind the 3-point arc, a new element introduced that season.

The 3-point shot wasn't much of a boost for White. He was only 28-of-68 on the season.

For example, the night White scored 49 on FSU he didn't attempt a single trey.

"Coach DeVoe wasn't for the 3-point shot," said White. "It took almost until mid-year. We were losing some close games and the 3-pointers were beating us."

Good thing White was so adept at the mid-range game, penetrating and getting to the free-throw line.

"I liked to attack defenses before they started attacking me," he said.

The Chicago Bulls drafted White, but his dreams of complementing Michael Jordan were short-lived.

His only NBA season was split among three teams. He was forced to look overseas, but again, he took advantage of his opportunities.

Playing on teams based in Belgium, The Philippines, Greece, Israel, France and Spain, White made a nice living and exposed his growing young family to a variety of cultures.

In Spain, he even played with former Vol teammate Dyron Nix.

"I liked Spain and Greece the best," White said. "The best money was Spain.

"The Philippines was fine. They treated the Americans real nice. You had your chauffeur and your maid.

"Belgium was the hardest. That was my first year being away."

These days, White is content to be a basketball dad.

Tony Jr. just finished his career at Bearden and like pops was overlooked by the major schools. He'll attend prep school for a year to develop his body.

Little brother Rico is at West Valley Middle and also has game.

As for his niche in UT basketball, White wants to be remembered as a guy who wore the orange well:

"I just want them to remember me as when it was time to play basketball, it don't matter where, I just wanted to represent Tennessee and all the history it had, Ernie and Bernie and Dale Ellis and everything.

"You might be undersized, but the biggest thing you can have is heart."

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.