Hopson has message for UT fans: I'll always be a Vol

NBA veteran Buckner says stage set for Hopkinsville's next star

By Mike Griffith

Originally published 12:50 a.m., April 23, 2008
Updated 12:50 a.m., April 23, 2008

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. - Scotty Hopson smiled when asked about recruiting rumors circulating on various Internet message boards the past few days.

Some said Hopson put off signing his scholarship papers for a week because Louisville made a late push or that Kentucky had gotten involved.

Hopson, who scored 21 points in the Jordan Brand Classic last Saturday, said the signing was delayed on account of his travel to and from the New York City all-star game.

"I don't even read message boards, because they are just opinions, not facts,'' said Hopson, who reaffirmed Tuesday his commitment to UT from earlier this month and will sign with the Vols today. "The Tennessee fans can't believe that stuff. I will be a Vol, I am a Vol, and I'll always be a Vol.''

A press conference will take place at 11 a.m. EDT today in the tiny University Heights Academy gymnasium to make it official.

For Hopson, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds per game, today's signing ceremony isn't about building suspense or soaking up glory.

It's about celebrating his future with classmates at University Heights, which range from pre-school through 12th grade

Randy McCoy, who took over the University Heights program this season, said Hopson's influence in the school is immeasurable.

"We've got 31 seniors here and 325 students total, and every one of them knows who Scotty is,'' McCoy said. "I get mad when I read some of that on the Internet that he has an attitude or whatever.

"It's just not true. Since I've known him, it's 'yes sir,' and 'no sir.' You'd never know he was a McDonald's and Parade All-American if you saw him walking the hallways.''

That's the way Minnesota Timberwolves guard Greg Buckner said it's supposed to be for University Heights athletes.

Buckner, a Hopkinsville native who played at Clemson before spending the past 10 years in the NBA, traveled the same path as Hopson, leading University Heights to Kentucky's overall state title in 1992 as a sophomore.

"Scotty has a bright future, but he's got to know college will be a lot different,'' Buckner said. "There will be some growing pains, and how he reacts is what will make him.''

Tuesday night, a pricey Mercedes outside the University Heights gym was a giveaway that Buckner was back home for some pickup basketball.

Hopson had the chore of guarding the muscular NBA veteran, while Buckner matched up against him on the other end.

Hopson's explosive first step got him past Buckner on more than one occasion, but Buckner didn't make anything easy, fouling Hopson hard a couple of times.

"All the younger guys around him will kiss his butt,'' Buckner said. "But I came up through here playing with the older guys, and they showed me the way. He needs somebody to kick his butt.''

Buckner's interest in his hometown is admirable: he sponsors a youth basketball league in Hopkinsville that requires youth attend life skills classes in order to play.

"This isn't about me,'' Buckner said, asked about the league. "This is about Scotty. It's going to be his day. He has a bright future, and a lot of talent.''

Dick Weaver, the University Heights athletic director, agrees.

"Scotty's the best high school player I've seen,'' said Weaver, reeling off names of a dozen other Division I players University Heights has produced over the past 15 years. "But Scotty's a great kid, that's the main thing. I know he originally committed to Mississippi State, and they'd put a lot of time into him since his sophomore year.

"But the way I see Tennessee playing, this is really better for Scotty.''

Hopson, who was named the Associated Press' Kentucky Boys High School Player of the Year on Monday, said changing his pick of schools was hard, even more difficult when Louisville, Kentucky, Texas, Cincinnati, Mississippi State and Georgia were still coming to see him.

"The other people had to realized I had to do what was best for me,'' Hopson said, almost apologetically. "Tennessee is a great school, and with two of its best players leaving, I'll have a chance to be an impact player if I work hard.

"It's just a more successful situation for me.''

Hopson has yet to see a game in Thompson-Boling Arena in person, but he has watched the Vols on television.

"I just realized I could be a part of all that,'' Hopson said. "I want those same fans cheering for me.''