Photo by Tim Webb
University Heights Academy'sScotty Hopson drives the ball against the pressure defense of Lexington Catholic's Zach Peffer during the opening round of the boys Sweet 16 state basketball tournament in Lexington, Ky., March 19, 2008.
The Tennessee men’s basketball team capped the most successful season in its history with the top recruit of coach Bruce Pearl’s career.
Scotty Hopson, a Parade and McDonald’s All-American who’s rated the No. 9 player in the country by Rivals.com, announced Tuesday he’ll play for the Vols.
Hopson, who can sign on April 16, the first day of the spring signing period, said he’ll enroll in classes this summer and play in the Pilot Rocky Top League.
“I committed to Tennessee today because it felt like the right thing for me,’’ said Hopson, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound shooting guard from University Heights High School in Hopkinsville, Ky. “I’ve always liked Tennessee growing up.’’
Hopson, the first McDonald’s All-American to commit to the Vols since Vincent Yarbrough in August of 1997 and the first of Pearl’s career, is projected to start at shooting guard.
“I hope so, but I know I’ll have to work hard for all of my minutes,’’ said Hopson, who averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds per game last season. “I talked to Chris (Lofton) and he was real honest with me in telling me what to expect and how tough it’s going to be.’’
Hopson originally committed to Mississippi State and was still considering the Bulldogs after re-opening his recruitment last fall. Louisville, Cincinnati and Kentucky were the other schools Hopson was considering.
“Tennessee is about three-and-a-half hour from us, and I wanted to see him play,’’ said Jeanette Hopson, who spent Monday and Tuesday touring the UT campus with her son. “After spending the past two days walking around here, everything just seemed to fit.’’
Hopson also fits perfectly into the Vols’ plans, as they’re losing the SEC’s all-time leading 3-point shooter in Lofton and will need some scoring punch.
UT also loses high-energy scorer/defender JaJuan Smith on the wing and steady point guard Jordan Howell.
The Vols have taken care of those spots, too, having already signed Renaldo Woolridge to play the wing and recently receiving a commitment from point guard Daniel West.
Woolridge, a 6-8 athlete from North Hollywood, Calif., is the son of former NBA great Orlando Woolridge and is expected to share minutes with J.P. Prince and redshirt freshman Cameron Tatum.
West, a 6-1 point guard, is expected to compete with fellow Michigander Ramar Smith for the starting spot after leading Saginaw to the high school championship as well as the No. 4 ranking (USA Today) in the country.
The Vols also have added 6-10 post Phillip Jurick to the mix. Jurick, from East Ridge High School, adds muscle to the front line.
UT sophomore forward Tyler Smith has said he’s considering entering into the NBA draft if he is projected high enough, while rising senior forward Ryan Childress is mulling his future after seeing his playing time reduced as a result of a foot injury he suffered earlier this season.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee Lady Vols 60, South…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 136
wvuvolfan writes:
BOTTOM!!!, MONEY!!!, YES!!!!!!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Stay 1 year Tyler!!!!! WOW...Pearl's 1st McD AA!!!!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
as in 1 more year Tyler
vol52 writes:
OUTSTANDING! GO VOLS!
VolJunkie writes:
Woo hoo! It just keeps on getting better.
Go VOLS!!
amyslins writes:
STRAIGHT BEAUTY!!!! Huge recruit. Our class coming in is stacked!
VolPride_13 writes:
This had better not be an April Fool's Joke!!! LOL
Otherwise, WOOOOHHHH!!!
mtnvol writes:
Another sharpshooter from KY? Woo Hoo! ;-)
shoalcreekvol writes:
The Bruce Pearl man-crush continues. Thanks to our Men's and Women's basketball programs, we're getting to see "excellence" lived out every day. Way to go BP! Can't wait to see Mad Hops in the orange.
TommyJack writes:
Coolio
THE_VOL writes:
Damn! How soon some of you forget!! You were all singing Final Four THIS YEAR and saw what can happen. NOW ONE FRESHMAN is gonna make the difference????? You people are either on drugs or need drugs! Great get but let's let him play a game before hanging his jersey.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Welcome to UT Scotty! I hope your time there is as fun and rewarding as mine was.
Way to go coach!!!
VolJunkie writes:
Not that I want to rain on anyone's parade, when questioned Scotty has commented that he could be a "one and done" player if his freshman year is as good as everyone expects. With the type of athletes CBP is recruiting I suspect this is something we may have to get used to. Still, should be one heck of a ride next year.
Go VOLS!!!
b16VOLster writes:
Awesome with a capital 'UT'. Please let this NOT be the cruelest April Fools joke ever!
thepowert writes:
Bruce, you da man. Scotty Hopson, Welcome to Big Orange Country. Let the Dynasty Begin.
VolJunkie writes:
VolPride -
"This had better not be an April Fool's Joke!!!"
LOL, that would absolutely suck ...
gohawks1 writes:
Great news! Go Vols! Go Pearl!
VolJunkie writes:
THE_VOL -
Lighten up dude, I don't think anyone is ready to put Mr. Hopson's statue outside of TBA ... we have just come off a disappointing tourney, there is a solid recruiting class coming in, and now UT lands the #9 prospect in the country. At least for today, I don't have to be a "realist", I can just be a fan and dream that anything is possible.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Wow...awesome! Welcome, Scotty! You'll love being a Vol!! pj
ATLVOL01 writes:
Rename the court, "The Pearl", the money keeps coming in because of this guy.
KENVOL writes:
Looks like we are re-loaded for next year. Hopson the #2 rated shooting guard in the country ( by Rivals) does anyone know if we have any Big men coming in?
TommyJack writes:
The_Vol: Is it PMS, or are you always a jag-off?
Stay_the_course writes:
MONEY!!! Once again another example of Pearl taking it to the man.... (note that the man is in reference to Kentucky and other so called powerhouse schools on the downslide.)
VolPride_13 writes:
Yeah Phillip Jurick is 6-11 and a BEAST of a rebounder!!!
oldorange writes:
Is this guy signed??? If not when do B-ball players sign a LOI?
Go VolS!!!!!!!!!!
IBleedOrange444 writes:
VolJunkie-
Well put.
KENVOL-
We've got a kid named Philip Jurick coming in out of Chattanooga. He's 6' 10" 250lbs. A 4 star center 13th best center in the class according to Rivals. Renaldo Woolridge has good size comming in a strong forward at 6' 8" 205lbs also.
MrBamSeydu writes:
NIIIIIIIICE!!!!
Man, we're going to be top-10 again next year!! I'm freakin stoked, that made my day!
utclassof1992 writes:
This is exactly what we needed. This kid has been shooting the lights out in HS. Let's hope this continues at TBA.
VOLS85 writes:
TALK ABOUT A FANTASTIC CLASS TO RELOAD, BACK INTO TITLE CONTENTION!
Hopson2008 writes:
Woooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IBleedOrange444 writes:
I said it's great...
to be...
a Tennessee Vol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hmhawk writes:
IBLEEDORANGE444- I second that emotion.
volmot writes:
Hey THE VOL maybe you forgot Derrick Rose: the best freshman point guard since Magic. No way Memphis is in the final 4 without him.
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
i love life.
Ramar
Scotty
JP
Tyler
Wayne
Duke
Tabb
Tatum
Brian Williams
Woolridge
Jurick
Chilly dog
Stephen Pearl
That's 13 people capable of playing really good basketball. OK fine, 11 people capable of really good basketball. All athletic and up tempo guys. Pearl is gettin his players in people. This is great news!
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
and Daniel West! I forgot about him
MoVol writes:
Don't want to rain on the Big Orange parade, but we need to remember that oral committments are worth the paper they're written on.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
MoVol-
This is true, but I don't think there are many players out there who have changed their mind after giving a verbal twice. Besides, the signing period begins on April 16th, so we won't have to hold our breath for too long.
Chainsaw writes:
Awesome news! Rest of the guys work their butts off this summer and we are gonna be smokin'!!!
2000man writes:
MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
redstickvol writes:
VolJunkie,
I too heard that Scotty said he might be a "one and done" if he thinks he's ready for the NBA after one year of college. HOWEVER, I heard on local radio in Baton Rouge, that the NBA is considering extending the mandatory college period to two years instead of one. They were talking about Richardson (I think) who is considering going pro this year. The rule obviously wouldn't be put into effect this year for him, but at the end of Hopson's first year, it may very well be a mandatory two year college career. This is not a done deal rule, but I hear it's very close.
GO VOLS!!!
bshone#598776 writes:
This gives Bruce so many options now. I agree that the most likely lineup will be:
G R.Smith
G Hopson
G/F Prince
F T.Smith
F Chism
IN ADDITION to this lineup, Coach Pearl could play a bigger lineup if he is concerned about his guard depth:
G R.Smith (West)
G Hopson (Tabb)
F T.Smith (Prince, Tatum, Childress)
F Chism (Crews, Woolridge)
C Williams (Jurick)
This team has so much potential, and the players that have been recruited are very long and athletic (Prince, Tatum, Woolridge, and Hopson seem to have the kind of size that will only make Coach Pearl's "organized chaos" even more chaotic).
I hope the Rocky Top League starts up soon!
THE_VOL writes:
Okay all you experts predicting Final Four NEXT YEAR - when was the last time a team started TWO freshmen and made the FF????? Ahhhh...answer is Michigan's Fab Five - this class is very good but it ain't them. You're also forgetting that while Hopson is supposed to be a great shooter...(a) many great HS shooters have gone ice cold in college when they get some D played on them and, (b) if he does deliver as a shooter, we're still back to having ONE dangerous outside threat - remember what that was like when Lofton was the ONLY guy????
All I'm saying is this kid has gotten to APRIL without being signed and when that happens there are usually reasons - and they usually aren't good.
THE_VOL writes:
Oh and for you line-up geeks PLEASE stop including Childress - he won't be around next year.
THE_VOL writes:
Last comment - about one and done - wasn't the Chism/Crews/R. Smith class supposed to have a couple of those?????? And a POY???? And some AA's?????
rab writes:
Sweet! Looks like more Bruce ball for the future.
VolPride_13 writes:
Wayne came on strong at the end of the year, so you could add him as a possible AA, in the future!!!
GerryOP writes:
Sheesh! And it just keeps on getting better! Wow! It's great ... to be ... a Tennessee Vol!!!!
VolJunkie writes:
redstickvol (6:46) -
Nice update, I had not heard that, thanks.
Time to watch CPS make her annual pilgrimage to the Final Four ...
Go VOLS!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
GerryOP are you in the kool-aid? LOL
Great news. Appears to be quality from the word go. Congrats, Bruce.
danthemanwells#1340833 writes:
THE_VOL
try last year? Ohio State? remeber those guys named Conley Jr. and Oden?
And how about the year Syracuse won the national championship on the back of FRESHMAN carmela anthony?
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