Prince is no pauper even if Smith joins UT

"When I went to play at Arizona out of high school, I was young and arrogant,'' '' said Prince, who has grown a half-inch and gained 20 pounds the past six months, up to 6-foot-8, 210. "I still talk a bit, but you could say there's been an adjustment period.''

Prince, a point guard at Arizona projected to swing between guard and forward at UT, is a key in how the Vols will adjust to losing Dane Bradshaw, who operated like a second point guard on the floor from the power forward position.

There's a possibility Tennessee could add another transfer next season in the form of Tyler Smith, who played at Iowa last season and was granted his release Friday.

Smith, a 6-7 freshman forward from Pulaski, Tenn., says he wants to play at UT in order to be closer to his father, Billy, who suffers from lung cancer. To be eligible for the 2007-08 season, Smith would need to be granted a hardship waiver from the NCAA. Otherwise, the former Giles County High School star will have to sit out a full season.

That's where Prince's talents and flexibility make him so valuable: He can play point guard, shooting guard, small forward or power forward.

"I know I have the talents to do all of that, but they just haven't been used yet,'' Prince said. "(UT) Coach (Bruce) Pearl will put my talents to use.''

Pearl said Prince is off to a strong start in the offseason program, but more challenges lie ahead.

"There's a difference between being a redshirt and competing for a starting job,'' Pearl said. "But I've been pleased with J.P. He's back closer to home where he wanted to be, and he's working hard.''

Prince said he knows it's unlikely that he'll win an appeal to travel to Austria with the team in August, and he might not even win his appeal to be eligible before the end of fall term.

But he's very confident that when Tennessee begins SEC play in January, he'll be ready.

"I know I can play in the SEC, because the guys in the SEC are the guys I grew up playing with and against,'' Prince said. "I played against JaJuan (Smith), I've played against Duke (Crews) and Ramar (Smith) in AAU, and I've known Wayne (Chism).

"I feel like I'm ready to play, mentally and physically.''

Prince fell behind at Arizona after an infected wisdom tooth turned into a respiratory infection that left him hospitalized for a month.

But since transferring to UT for the start of spring term in January, he's been happy and healthy.

"This is where I'm supposed to be,'' said Prince, a former high school teammate of Bradshaw at Memphis White Station. "Our team is putting the work in, and our goal is San Antonio.''

San Antonio, of course, is the site of next year's Final Four. The Vols are listed in the top 10 of many preseason polls, and they figure to be the favorite to win the SEC East.

Smith Numbers: UT hasn't had contact with Smith, but a source close to the basketball program has said Tennessee would be interested in taking him.

A look at Smith's numbers at Iowa last season shows why. Smith started 28 of 30 games for the Hawkeyes as a freshman and was the team's second-leading scorer with a 14.8 points-per-game average. Smith led Iowa with 4.9 rebounds per game and 44 steals. He was also second in assists (113) and shot .742 from the free throw line.

Smith signed with the Vols in 2004, but asked out of his letter of intent after former UT coach Buzz Peterson was fired after the 2004-05 season. Pearl did not grant him a release, and Smith went on to Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy where he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists during the 200506 season.

Busy Bruce: Pearl did his share of public services while traveling in and out of town recruiting over the past 10 days.

On April 13 he appeared with Chris Lofton at the Relay for Life American Cancer benefit, and he's made stops in Crossville (camp for disabled children), Scott County (Big Brothers Big Sisters program) and Sequoya Hills Elementary School (rewarding youth for fundraising efforts).

Pearl was in Houston on Saturday, doing more recruiting.

Underset: .2 inches/ 1 lines