Boring? Crews entertains with dunks

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Former South-Doyle standout Logan Johnson of Kingston Alley takes a shot during a Rocky Top League game Wednesday night at Bearden High School.

It’s in a gym, not an arena, and his uniform is blue, not orange.

But it’s the game of basketball, and Duke Crews has just one approach to the sport: all out.

“With Duke, it’s not just lip-service,’’ said Pat Walden, a former University of Tennessee basketball player under Don DeVoe in 1981 and the coach of Crews’ 3-1 HT Group team in the Pilot Rocky Top League. “Duke’s a very intense guy and he hates to lose.’’

To a fault.

Crews, a rising Tennessee sophomore, plays each and every Monday and Wednesday night Rocky Top League game like it was his last.

“Duke is always serious out there,’’ fellow UT teammate J.P. Prince said. “You know he’s going to be out there banging.’’

And dunking.

Dunk after dunk after dunk after dunk.

The fans come to their feet when the 6-foot-9 Crews leaves the ground in anticipation.

“I want to give our fans something to watch,’’ said Crews, who appears to love the attention. “It’s the dead period in sports. No offense to baseball and NASCAR, but they can get kind of boring.’’

Not Crews, who averages 31 points and 20 rebounds per Rocky Top game.

Ben Purcell, a chiseled 6-6, 220-pounder from Sewanee was charged with guarding Crews in Wednesday night’s game, a 96-91 HT Group win over First Tennessee.

“Duke is so strong and physical, it just gives him that presence out there,’’ said Purcell, who held Crews to 29 points. “He’s got great hands and he really finishes plays. You’ve just got to try to stay between him and the basket.’’

Troy Wills, the UT men’s basketball strength coach, said Crews has been assertive in the weight room as well.

“Duke is more explosive and he’s faster out there,’’ Wills said. “He’s down to about 231, he’s lost six or seven pounds, but he’s stronger.

“His legs don’t get as heavy on him anymore.’’

Even in the weight room, Crews keeps pushing.

“Duke has been more vocal as far as pushing the other guys and shown some leadership ability,’’ Wills said. “He’s come a long ways, and you can see he’s really maturing.’’

Ron Slay was back in Italy for a European All-Star game and did not play for First Tennessee, which was led by UT’s Josh Tabb with 28 points.

News Sentinel 139, Kingston Alley 135: Former Bearden standout Tony White Jr. exploded for 35 points while J.P. Prince and Tyler Smith added 28 and 26 respectively for The Press.

The News-Sentinel team improved to 3-1 with the win while Kingston Alley dropped to 1-3.

“Everyone is focused on me and Tyler, and that frees some other things up,’’ Prince said. “If we spread our opponents, it’s easier for us, and Tony has figured that out.’’

JaJuan Smith scored 36 points for Kingston Alley, while Wayne Chism added 22.

“That joker (White Jr.) didn’t miss!’’ Chism said. “He just let it ride, and we couldn’t make a shot when we needed to.’’

Jalen Rose, drafted in the third round by Kingston Alley, did not play in Wednesday’s game as many expected.

SunTrust 114, Toyota Knoxville 107: SunTrust (1-3) won the game, but Toyota Knoxville stole the show, taking a 106-102 lead with 1:32 left despite playing with only four players.

Lee University’s Cole Rose scored 36 and Tyler Gaskin added 26 for depleted Toyota (2-2), which was playing without Chris Lofton, Dane Bradshaw and Damon Johnson.

Clemson signee Terrence Ogelsby scored 28 points for SunTrust, but drew a costly technical that nearly cost his team the game in the closing minutes. Ramar Smith had 26 for SunTrust, which was missing Rashard Lee and Courtney Pigram.

Lee injured his left knee in the opener and his return this season is questionable. Pigram, from ETSU, has been home with his mother. Lofton and Bradshaw are expected to return next week.