Packer: Summitt welcomed Butts 'to the family'

"I just wasn't a Tennessee fan," Butts said. "I had always been infatuated with Carolina blue. My aunt, Valerie Freeman, had played for the Lady Vols and I didn't want to follow in her footsteps. I wanted to make my own mark.

"It came down to Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. I guess Pat and the other coaches finally won me over. I committed to Tennessee the summer before my senior (high school) season because, real honestly, I was tired of the recruiting process. Some people like the process, but I didn't.

"I called Pat up to tell her that I had made a decision and that I wanted to come to Tennessee and she was shocked. She said, 'Welcome to the family.'

Like most Lady Vols, Butts was a high school phenom. She had never had a problem scoring for her team in Milledgeville, Ga. But when she got to campus for the first practice she was in awe.

"I looked up to Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall so much. A tradition is to have the newcomers play the upper classmen on the first day. So Ashley Robinson, LaToya Davis, Courtney McDaniel and I took on the rest of the team.

"They gave us one upperclassman so that we would have five players. We didn't keep score, but I know that they beat us. You know, I was nervous when we started the game. But once the ball bounced the nerves were out the window.

Butts was a solid contributor for the Lady Vols, but didn't have a breakout game. That is, until her senior season against Vanderbilt.

"I think I came out of a three-year shell in that one,'' she said. "I had averaged about 9 to 10 points a game up to that point. All of a sudden, I busted out for 37 points in Nashville."

The performance nearly doubled her previous career high of 19 points. As it turned out, every point Butts scored in that game mattered. The Lady Vols rallied for a 94-88 victory while on their way to an SEC regular-season championship.

"It was the epitome of Pat Summitt coaching," Butts said. "She never drew up a play specifically for me, just because I was hot. She just kept calling the normal plays and knew that if I was open that I would take the shot. Now (assistant coaches) Nikki Caldwell and Holly Warlick knew what was going on. I remember that Nikki kept trying to keep me loose.

"I don't think Pat realized that I had scored 37 points until we got to the locker room after the game. She stood in front of us looking over the box score sheet and kind of grinned. All she said was, 'Dang Butts.' Everyone patted me on the back and kind of woo-hooed for a minute. But, it didn't last long. Pat was mad at us because we didn't play very good, so she started yelling at the team."

After being selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the 20th pick in the 2004 WNBA draft, Butts spent one season with the team. The next year she spent half of a season with Charlotte before the team folded.

"I'm back in Knoxville now because I hurt my ankle while playing in Israel," said Butts. "I called back to talk to (Lady Vols athletic trainer) Jenny Moshak for advice on what to do for rehab. After the trainers there wouldn't do what Jenny told me to do, my agent and I decided that I should come back home to rehab.

"Right now, I'm a free agent. I'd like to try out with another WNBA team, but we'll see what happens."

Butts might have been infatuated with Carolina blue growing up, but she'll have orange in her blood for the rest of her life after four great years with the Lady Vols.