New kids on the blockmake Rocky Top noise

Incoming Tennessee freshmen Cameron Tatum and Brian Williams stepped out of the shadows Wednesday night, and they did it against a couple of proven SEC veterans.

Tatum, a 6-foot-6 wing, scored 27 points matched up against JaJuan Smith. Williams, a 6-foot-9, 266-pound center, scored 21 with Wayne Chism on him part of the game.

I relaxed a little bit, and I think I showed I belong, said Tatum, who had nine points on 4-of-13 shooting in his debut Monday night. This was real big for me.

It was real big for his HT Group team, too, as it defeated Kingston Alley by a 111-106 count in Pilot Rocky Top League action at Bearden High School.

Cameron came with it, and thats the type of player we need, said Smith, who had 45 points in a losing cause. Hes gonna bring penetration, kick the ball out and rebound. Were missing some of that, and hes going to plug that gap.

Duke Crews scored 28 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for the HT Group team. But as Crews discovered after scoring 44 in an opening night loss, he cant do it alone inside.

Brian is a solid rebounder, and he has good footwork and he can pass the ball well, Crews said. I expect him to be a big asset for our team when the season starts.

Williams, who has lost 90 pounds over the past two years, said hes just anxious to contribute on a championship team.

All I care about is a national championship, whether Im playing five minutes or 35 minutes a game, said Williams, who comes to UT via the Bronx, N.Y., and Harmony Community College in Cincinnati. My goal when I come in is to control the glass, and I pride myself on my defense.

Williams showed that on opening night, holding East Tennessee State forward Andrew Reed to three points on 1-of-10 shooting.

Not bad considering Reed had 17 points and 15 rebounds in the Vols 93-88 win over ETSU last season.

I wasnt letting him get the ball, Williams said, and I was fighting to keep him off the block.

The signings of Tatum and Williams slipped into the background a bit with UTs high-profile transfers, J.P. Prince and Tyler Smith, stealing headlines.

But neither Tatum nor Williams seem to mind.

These guys — Tyler and J.P. — theyre All-Americans, so its going to be real good for me to have them here, said Tatum, who has recovered from a torn meniscus (right knee) that he suffered in February at The Patterson (N.C.) Prep School. Theyre older than me, so when they graduate, it will be my time. Until then, Im going to do everything I can to help the team.

Wednesday night, that was plenty.