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Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, left, gives orders to J.P. Prince during the Vols' win over Butler.
Tennessee sophomore forward J.P. Prince underwent arthroscopic reconstructive surgery to his left shoulder Friday and will miss spring conditioning drills.
The Vols started lifting weights Monday.
Prince, who is projected to start at small forward next season, is expected to make a full recovery by the start of practice in October, according to UT basketball trainer Chad Newman.
Prince was named the SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year after averaging eight points and 3.2 rebounds last season.
Prince’s shoulder bothered him throughout the season, but he played through the injury, undergoing strenuous physical therapy.
Prince, a 6-foot-7 Memphis native, scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting in UT’s win at Xavier and scored 13 points and hit two clutch free throws to seal the Vols’ win over Memphis.
NCAA Tennessee 83 - Ohio 68
Vols' spring practice wit…
Tennessee defeats San Diego State 62-59
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 33
Ironcity writes:
Three to four months? Will he be able to lift. If Prince doesn't get stronger and bigger, I doubt he will get any better then we saw him this year. I thought this was going to be a little clean-up.
GIVEHIMSIX writes:
I wonder if that surgery will teach him how to play defense.
knoxnewsuser writes:
That is rough on the defense comment, but funny too.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
GIVEHIMSIX-
You're an a$$hole. The surgery may not, but I'm sure the coaches will. I bet he could "D" you up just fine bum shoulder and all.
I didn't even know he needed surgery. He must be pretty tough to keep his injury a secret.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Wow Ibleed, been a rough day?
I don't think givehim was trying to be disrespectful, but you have to admit Prince does have to work a bit on his foot speed. He plays back on his heels too much, and seems to get taken off the dribble often.
I wish Prince a speedy recovery. Shoulder surgery's are no bueno.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Give:
Tap on the brakes.
Thanks....
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Yes, it has. I just don't like all the constant negatives. I thought Prince's defense got better every game. What more can you ask for out of the kid than to improve every time out? Nobody is perfect. I will always tend to stick up for the players and the coaches, but that was just an a$$hole thing to say. He's going into surgery and even if it is a routine procedure, there are still more improtant things to worry about than his defense.
wvuvolfan writes:
ditto, bleed
richvol writes:
I had rotator cuff surgery two years ago...it was very painful before surgery and worse after. It took three months of therapy to just get back to normal.
Gaining strength is what Prince needs more than anything. It's going to be difficult to have him much stronger by next season. I sure hope he makes it as he has tremendous upside.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wish him the best.
GreerVol22 writes:
ok IBleed, I'll try and stay positive.
I am positive he cannot play point guard. I am positive that marc_ash's comment about his heels is spot on. And I'm positive I'm leaving work in about 10 minutes.
There, I was positive 5 times. Get well JP.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Thanks Greer. That was kind of positive, I guess. I think you guys are right about him playing PG. I don't think he has enough eligibility left to develop into a great PG. There aren't too many 6'-5" PGs out there are there? Wish I was leaving work myself. I hope JP plays well enough next year to never have to know how bad it sucks to sit at a desk all day, 5-6 days a week!
BigOrangeHustler writes:
Anybody want to order a pizza?
budrhon writes:
ditto Bleed
BigOrangeHustler writes:
Anyone? Because I'm getting kinda hungry.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Hustler-
Yea, I'll throw in. What do you want to get?
TommyJack writes:
Smokey Mtn Mkt dawgs
utstudent86 writes:
Ive torn my acl twice and had a compound fracture of my tibia and all three of those surgeries have given me less trouble than my torn labrum i had on my shoulder. This is kind of scarry!!! It doesn't look like JP will be getting any stronger, it took me several months to get my shoulder just back to normal. Hope all goes well and he doesn't have a similar experience!!
alfrizzle097 writes:
JP does have bad footwork. He uses his long arms to try to compensate. At the same time, it isn't always a bad thing if he gets taken off the dribble.
With hold judgement on the point guard thing. He hasn't played it in about two years. Wait and see what a year of practice and some games against MTSU do for his decision making. Its not like Ramar has a lock on the position.
bricker865 writes:
....the artist formally known as JP.....
dopedawg writes:
get well soon JP
Couchdummy writes:
TJ: Ah yes!! Smokey Mt Dogs from Chapman Highway, and Vol dogs from Vol Market on the strip!! Class of 68, stayed in Stadium Hall!! Can't get those 5 for a dollar dogs any more!!
TommyJack writes:
Coach: Had a couple of buddies lived in E. Stadium during the same time. Spent a few nites there...remember the cold showers.
Remember that nickle pinball on the right as you went into the vol mkt? Was occupied 24/7.
RockyTop writes:
Shoulder surgery isn't going to keep him from working on his footwork. I think he just needs to settle down and play more under control.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Depending on how sore it was or how restricted his range of motion was, that would go far to explain why his shooting was so bad last season. I am less concerned with his strength than I am with improving his footwork on defense and eventually improving his shot. It is the latter that concerns me most, since that surgery and recovery will prevent him from putting up the 100's of shots a day necessary to groove a better shot.
(Long coaching lesson ahead; reading/time-challenged persons, stop here(;-P)
As for his defensive footwork, I believe that most players are improperly taught. If you are guarding someone on the perimeter, and he starts to drive around you, the most common mistake is to try to step straight sideways to cut him off. Coaches constantly harp on not allowing the guy to get by you, so you step over in his path. This almost always results in a defensive foul if the guy continues to go in the same direction. I would argue that the proper first step should be BACK at a 45-degree angle or even sharper. The idea is not so much to cut the guy off as it is to keep him in front of you. You are still between him and the basket, but you are not in contact and you do have good balance. If the driver stays on the same path, you have a much better chance of drawing a charge. If he stops for a pull-up jumper, you are in a better position to contest the shot without fouling. We already know that not many modern players excel at the mid-range pull-up jumper anyway. In any case, you force the ball-handler to do something OTHER than what he had in mind when he started his move. We know that decision-making on the move is another great weakness of most modern offensive players; the more times you can force the offensive player to do something DIFFERENT than what he originally intended, the more likely he will make a mistake. With JP's long arms and legs, he would be a much more effective and less foul-prone defender if he did it this way, even without exceptional foot-speed, which he is not likely to improve much anyway. That kind of foot-speed is an inherent trait that can only be improved so much through training anyway. Use positioning instead. Here endeth today's lesson(;-D)!
TurboFan writes:
John, never been a coach and never played organized ball, but stayed at a Holiday Inn once and watched alot of TV. One problem I can pick on about your logic is that that is how an perimeter shooter can create room for his shot. By taking a step toward the basket, getting the defender to step backward, then rocking back for a clear shot. Allan Houston was great at it. Your logic could apply if the offender (?) is not a good outside shooter though. Just a thought.
murrayvol writes:
Couch: I was in Stadium Hall E. fall of 67'(Class of 69'). Palatial digs! I thought they closed it in 68'. Guess not!
TJ: The showers were cold because the rats & cockroaches would always use up the hot water.
murrayvol writes:
WD40: Your theory works if the defender knows he can be beat off the dribble. If not, he stays in the offensive player's jock.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well, WD40, you have a point, but obviously one has to study opponents' strengths and tendencies. Chris Lofton also used the type of move you mentioned. The thing is, both Alan and Chris were relatively less likely to try to drive the ball to the hoop as their FIRST option. Great shooters like them have to be played for the outside shot first. As I said, the thing is to make the offensive player do something DIFFERENT than what he wants to do. The problem with JP specifically was his trouble containing the dribble-drive without fouling. In fact, most of our perimeter defenders had that same problem all season long. They picked up most of their fouls either by trying to belly the guy out of his preferred path or by reaching in attempts to disturb his dribble. The refs mostly seemed not to like to see us try to do that. In terms of this past year's players, you play Ramar or JP for the drive and you play Chris or even JaJuan for the outside shot. You want to be close enough to the perimeter shooters to contest the shot without lunging or reaching and you want to deny the drivers a path to the basket by changing the angle they have to take to get there.
TommyJack writes:
Murray: You may be right on closing. I lived off campus, but visited buddies there in probably '66 or so. Don't recall the roaches, but my vision was impaired greatly in those days.
THE_VOL writes:
BP should make him work out during his recovery! Think about it - he could only use his RIGHT hand! What a marvelous addition to his game THAT would be.
TurboFan writes:
Agree, knowing your opponent is the most valuable part to defending.
Murray, I lived in East Stadium Hall in 82-83 on the top floor. Thought it closed a year or so after that. Great location for games and the Hill but far away from everyone else and the strip.
murrayvol writes:
WD40: You had a room with a view. It's a small world. Seems more than a few of us cycled through in that time frame.
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