The Tennessee men's basketball team proved as adept at connecting from long distance in recruiting as it is on the court.
Renaldo Woolridge, son of former NBA great Orlando Woolridge, phoned coach Bruce Pearl on Thursday afternoon to make a verbal commitment to attend UT.
"Tennessee is where I felt the most comfortable,'' said the 6-foot-8, 200-pound Woolridge, who chose the Vols over Georgetown and Southern Cal. "It's a program on the rise.''
Woolridge is considered by many recruiting analysts to be a player on the rise after averaging 20 points and eight rebounds at Harvard-Westlake High School near his hometown of Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Any time you can get a kid who is on his way up as a prospect, who has NBA genes, and has great character, it's a really big deal,'' said Dave Telep, the top recruiting analyst for Scout.com. "Woolridge is still growing into his game, and he has a high ceiling of talent. This gives Tennessee a lot of momentum.''
It also serves a major need, as 3-point shooters Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith and Jordan Howell are all seniors.
Woolridge led his high school league in 3-pointers made, connecting at a 35 percent clip.
"A lot of people tease me about my shooting range, because I actually shoot a higher percentage from further out,'' Woolridge said. "I've already started adjusting to the (3-point) line being moved back. I've been practicing from NBA range.''
Woolridge was the leading scorer for his Belmont Shore AAU team, which won the Reebok tournament in Las Vegas this past summer.
"Our team wore orange,'' Woolridge said, "so I know I can play well in the color.''
Pat Jackson-Woolridge, Renaldo's mother, said she knows her son will mesh well with the college students and community in Knoxville.
"Being a Southern woman, I've raised my children in that way, so those warm Southern ways will not be unfamiliar to them,'' said Jackson-Woolridge, who grew up in Mansfield, La., near Shreveport and received her teaching degree from Northeast Louisiana, now Louisiana-Monroe.
"I encourage all of my children to find the place that works for them.''
Renaldo's older brother, Zach, is a senior at Princeton majoring in operations research and financial engineering.
Renaldo's sister, Tiana, is a 6-1 freshman on the Harvard-Westlake varsity basketball team.
"My daughter's favorite part of the trip was eating ribs at Pat Summitt's house on the visit,'' Jackson-Woolridge said about the Lady Vols' basketball coach. "I think those were the best ribs I've ever had.''
Obviously, there was more to the UT visit than catered ribs and a football victory over Georgia on Oct. 6.
"The people there are real genuine, and I got a feel for that and it felt like home,'' Woolridge said. "The academic support was very good. I feel I'll be building upon what I've accomplished in high school.''
Woolridge, 17, also has been impressed by SEC basketball.
"I know the SEC is a real hard working and hungry conference,'' he said. "I worked out with Glen Davis and some LSU players, so I got a feel for what SEC basketball is like.''
Woolridge worked out with the former LSU star in Houston while training with his 6-9 father.
"He puts me through some workouts,'' Renaldo said, "and he's there as a big body when I work on my post moves.''
Orlando Woolridge played 13 seasons in the NBA (1981-94) after being drafted with the sixth pick in the first round of the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.
Woolridge, who played on Notre Dame's 1978 Final Four team, was a teammate of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson during his NBA career before taking his family to Italy for the final two years of his pro career. He coached the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks in 1998 and 1999.
That might explain how Renaldo first became acquainted with the Vols.
"I'd known about the Tennessee women's basketball program for a while,'' Renaldo Woolridge said. "Then the men's team reached the Sweet 16 last year, so I could see it becoming a powerhouse.''
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Comments » 33
Ironcity writes:
If he is anything like his father, he will be a stud for Pearl. Great pick up!
volchiq writes:
This is great! I hope that basketball players stick with their verbal commitments better than some of the football players seem to.
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
Great News!!! Welcome to Big Orange country Renaldo!
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
WOW! What a GET for the program!
If he's anything like his Dad, this guy will spend his career WAY above the rim.
And didn't he have two classmates we were recruiting? And didn't they all say they were going to come as a package to whatever school they chose?
Bruce Almighty...
thevol writes:
Awesome, let's hope that he became good friends with Chris Singleton and Elliot Williams, and they soon follow him here. This has the potential of a great recruiting class. Pearl is the man.
Basketball_Jones writes:
Great Pick up!!! Remember basketball players have a early signing period, he'll be able to sign soon
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Yes, indeed...CHRIS AND ELLIOT: if you want serious MINUTES immediately and a real chance for CHAMPIONSHIPS, start packing for K'town.
GreerVol22 writes:
His Dad was a great player but was also into the "lettuce". Keep it clean kid, the Ag campus can't supply everyone U know.
GreerVol22 writes:
jwray, I'll bite, what's the drug they don't test for?
texan writes:
jw,
Be careful what you say about those guys up in KY.
"You might finally be having a swan year in football, but we both know that is a fluke. Enjoy it while it lasts UK."
They are probably saying the same "swan song" thing about UTBB. Remember they may be clueless about hiring coaches but they can be as slick as their name implies (KY) when it comes to winning basketball games in the long run.
GreerVol22 writes:
jwray, thats strange
the NBA colletive bargaining agreement says in section 8
(c) Penalties.
Any player who (i) tests positive for marijuana pursuant to Section 5 (Reasonable Cause Testing), Section 6 (Random Testing), or Section 14 (Additional Bases for Testing), (ii) is adjudged by the Grievance Arbitrator pursuant to Section 5(e) above to have used or possessed marijuana, or (iii) has been convicted of (including a plea of guilty, no contest or nolo contendere to) the use or possession of marijuana in violation of the law, shall suffer the following penalties:
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Air, I have just discovered someone to dislike intensely for all eternity. Thanks.
OldNumber7 writes:
Thank you Mr. Hamilton and thank you Coach Pearl. So Mr. AD, you got one more in ya?
Southland writes:
There is only one God and he doesn't live in Knoxville lets don't be stupid about God
Bigger_Al writes:
Pearl is on a roll. This doesn't suck.
AirHeadOne does, though.
Bigger_Al writes:
You can't spell "Suck" without UK...
Phowell23 writes:
AirForceOne...grow up. The God comment was just an enthusiastic poster and excited UT fan. UT fans have been waiting a long time for this type of excitement that Pearl brings and if a poster refers to him as a God then please don't make yourself look silly and post what you posted. We are all laughing at you not with you.
jclowers writes:
Do you think this is his way of influencing Elliot Williams, hopefully they became good friends during their visit together. I'm sure they respect each other and here's Woolridge commiting before Williams announces his pick. Hopefully, Williams will see this and want to be on the Pearl bandwagon. Good pick-up for Tennessee, Woolridge must have met Bruce Pearl and thought, that's going to be my coach!
Phowell23 writes:
How many scholarships do they have to give out in this class? Could Williams and Singleton both come board? Remember all three visited on the same weekend...and all three watched TN destroy GA that Saturday in Neyland Stadium. I have a feeling we get all three if scholarships allow.
BluetickBlues writes:
If we get all three I'll kiss your butt. Well maybe not yours but Pearl's at least. We get those three recruits and we win the SEC the next 3 years easily. Can't wait to stomp a mudhole in the kitties hind ends in football and basketball. I have never seen a more arrogant, obsessive, and openly delirious fan base in my life.
andy112382#209793 writes:
That confirms that your analysis on things, more often than not, doesn't mean much CRVol. Bruce Pearl is a great coach and from what I can tell I great guy, but no one ever comes close to being a god, there is only one God, and like I said no one comes anywhere close to that. But he sure does have the Vols basketball ridin' high, go vols!!!
BornaVolDieaVol writes:
"Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas, Illinois and Boston College have expressed interest in Woolridge." Pretty good victory for the Vols over some other good basketball schools.
Phowell23 writes:
Sounds like we may also have a great women's basketball recruit in 3 years.
As far as which road to name after Bruce Pearl...I kind of like Pearl Lane...or Pearl Way. Or "I OWN FL Drive".
jlange#632002 writes:
Trust he understands team play better than his father.
thevol writes:
Your reputation precedes you CR. It's an accumulation of all the stupid things you have said. You are now the anti-vol for everyone on this board. But,I know you enjoy the antagonist role, so have fun, it will continue.
Hunter writes:
CRVol - Mark Twain is quoted as saying "It's better to keep your mouth shut and people to think you're a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
Jurick is getting lost in the mix, probably because he is a Ryan Childress type of player. Wait, that's a good thing.....
Let's don't get too distracted here boys and girls - it's Bama week! I hate Bama. You should, too.
DooleyNoted writes:
Go Vols! I can't wait till BB season. Thanks Coach Pearl for coming to UT.
thevol writes:
Touchdown- Actually if I had the power to "shun someone from Volnation", it would be you. I actually like having CR on here. When he talks football objectively he knows what he is talking about and he is funny sometimes. If we all agreed how much fun would it be?
This is Bama week and I will turn my angst towards them until next week. Wasn't this a basketball article anyway? We usually all get along for those.
bleed_orange writes:
Well said TouchdownTN. FL made winning the SEC look easy last year, but look they went on to win the National Championship again. I think the SEC is the best conference in the nation. Some people may say ACC, Big East, Big 10, Pac 10, or Big 12, however, you cann't say that anyone in the SEC cann't beat you on a given night. The SEC last year had 7 out of 12 teams that won 20 games or more and only 1 team that had a losing record which was South Carolina at 14-16. The ACC had 9 teames with 20 wins and 2 teams with losing records. The Big East had 8 teams with 20 wins and 3 teams with a losing record. The Big 10 had 7 20 game winners and 3 teams with a losing record. So, I would say the ACC might be the best basketball conference, but the SEC is right on their heals. I would love to see a SEC vs ACC preseason games. Maybe FL vs NC, TN vs VA, Vandy vs Maryland, KY vs VA Tech, Miss vs BC, MSU vs Duke, GA vs GA Tech, ALA vs Clem, ARK vs FSU, Aub vs NCST, LSU vs Wake, and SC vs Miami. It would be interesting - the SEC would hold their own. GO VOLS!
JDS
Hunter writes:
Actually, CRVol, I am an alumnus of the University of Tennessee, meaning I actually went to class, learned about life and art, and have a college degree. I also graduated with honors, thus my knowledge of famous quotations and literature extends beyond the "Fulmerisms" and other drivel that you spew. Here's guessing you dropped out of Cocke County High in the 11th grade (for the second time) and bash the Vols out of sheer jealousy of those with a better lot in life. Is that a sufficient rhetort to your oh-so-clever post? Yeah, I understand - you can't spell or pronounce half of those words. Life's too short to hurt your brain....
Hunter writes:
Sorry to you other posters - Bama has me on edge! Coach Pearl has fulfilled my childhood dreams of a winning basketball program. Dad and I watched the games together in the Dyron Nix, Mark Griffin, Ian Lockhart days.....it was ugly, but it was fun!
utchris writes:
Now if we can just get Elliot Williams out of Memphis. He is supposed to declare his intentions the first week of November according to the CA. Picking between UT, Memphis, Duke, and UVA
utchris writes:
I have heard from several close to the situation that the kid may really be torn. Apparently Pearl has made a great impression on him and he would have an opportunity to compete for a starting role with the departure of Lofton.
I believe his girlfriend just committed to UTC, maybe the distance will help us!
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