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Chism, Hopson head to Dallas for camp
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Tennessee men's basketball players Wayne Chism and Scotty Hopson will head to Dallas on Thursday to take part in the adidas Nations global basketball experience.
The weekend event will give Chism and Hopson opportunities to test their skills against other top collegiate players as well as high school All-Americans.
UT junior forward Tyler Smith was also selected for the camp but declined to attend.
Smith is opting to return to Pulaski to spend time with his family and 2-year-old-son, Amare, before he has to return for the start of fall classes.
Smith went to LeBron James' camp July 6-9 in Akron, Ohio, to groom his skills.
Former Vol JaJuan Smith took part in James' camp last year and gave favorable reviews of the experience the opportunity provided.
Chism, a 6-foot-9 junior post who's expected to start at center for the Vols this season, has enjoyed his best offseason since arriving at UT two years ago.
"Wayne has improved immensely from an athletic standpoint,'' said Tony Jones, UT's associate head coach. "Both him and (sophomore center) Brian Williams have done a tremendous job with their leadership in helping Emmanuel (Negedu), Philip (Jurick) and Renaldo (Woolridge).''
Hopson, who showed the skills that made him a McDonald's All-American in the Pilot Rocky Top League this summer, continues to adjust well to college life.
Hopson's biggest on-court adjustment since arriving in Knoxville in June has been trying to maintain his shooting touch while incorporating weight-training into his training regimen.
The silky-smooth 6-7 shooting guard struggled to hit the mark beyond the 3-point arc this summer.
Dominic Cheek, a 6-7 wing from St. Anthony's in New Jersey is expected to be among the top high school players at the adidas event.
Cheek, ranked as the No. 4 shooting guard in the nation by Rivals.com, remains one of Tennessee's top recruiting targets in the Class of 2009.
Listening to adidas Nations coach and former New Jersey Nets assistant coach Ed Schilling talk, it's easy to understand why.
"He (Cheek) is coming in a little bit ahead fundamentally because he plays for a great high school coach (Bob Hurley) and plays with other great high school players," Schilling told the Herald News in West Paterson, N.J.
"But the thing I've been impressed with is just his willingness to listen and to learn, and really take what we're giving him and trying to apply it and then trying to increase the intensity as he gets it down. He wants to get better."
Cheek helped lead St. Anthony to a 32-0 record and a New Jersey Tournament of Champions title, averaging 12.3 points and seven rebounds last season.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by murrayvol on August 5, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cheek seems to be shaping up as a one and done. I'm guessing Bruce will designate a roster spot for that type player.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on August 5, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BALLAZ!
Posted by Jamey1210 on August 5, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BALLAZ? Is that ebonix? have not heard of that in a while. Just curious
Posted by Kosmo on August 5, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hope he doesn't turn the other "cheek"
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on August 5, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Air American Hops kid! B Maze be amazed this things not a game
Posted by mparker on August 5, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well, back to ordinary chatter....
glad to read Jones comments on Brian and Wayne.
I keep thinking Brian is going to be a really powerful player, he wasn't bad last year and he was pudgy.
Posted by TopTenn on August 6, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can Chism and Hopson talk to Cheek about UT per NCAA rules?
Posted by alfrizzle097 on August 6, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rckydx: Yes. They are current students/athletes. They couldn't talk to him if they had already moved on. If they were gone already (pro or graduate), they would be considered representatives of the university. Then it would be a violation for them to talk to him. Gary Parrish had an article about this about a year age that involved Sean May and one of UNC's recruits. As is, they can say whatever they want. Not sure if they can treat him to dinner if they go out. I think that could be viewed as improper benefits.
Posted by alfrizzle097 on August 6, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW, anyone know what Lofton and Jajuan's positions are? Either one manage to stick in a camp? I know Lofton had signed a contract over-seas that would be effective if he couldn't stick with an NBA team.
Posted by TopTenn on August 6, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lance Stephenson will also be at the camp.
Posted by mparker on August 6, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
al, great post, but you left out the codicile about goats humping donkeys:
"....and the NCAA does NOT approve former universtiy athletes conferring with indiduals who MAY one day enter college. This constitutes a level 1 offense, and can result in severe sanctions to the institution involved. However, if a male goat is humping a female donkey under the moonlight, then a limited conversation is acceptable. The conversation SHALL be limited to questions about how difficult it would be for a male donkey to hump a female goat"...
NCAA bylaw number 2,000,135,114,121.2, subparagraph afkafklafjkjakjf(2).
Posted by WVVOLFAN on August 6, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
89 days untill it's BB time in TN
Posted by alfrizzle097 on August 6, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mparker: Forget your meds? :)
Posted by pdhuff on August 6, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mparker, 10:02 - I noticed the same things in the rule book and thought maybe this section might also apply-
Codicle 12-365 - sub para BR549 -charts -i.e. if a Rhode Island red shall eat 12 lbs of sawdust daily, then she should be expected to lay a 2 x 4 with 6-8 days.
Believe that is pertinent.
Posted by budrhon on August 7, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rckydx - word from most writers who have seen Lance Stephenson play especially in Vegas a few weeks ago is that he is selfish and a pouter. Lots of physical talent, but a "can't get right attitude".
Posted by TopTenn on August 7, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We can live with Lance for one and done.
Posted by budrhon on August 7, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not if he tears the team up. I can't see Pearl taking that chance. Word is that several Coaches are passing on him. Unless Rivals has not updated their info Stephenson doesn't have the Vols on his list. Neither does Scout.
Posted by TopTenn on August 8, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stephenson has listed the Vols several times. Check zagsblog.net. I don't think Pearl would let him complete control.
Posted by TopTenn on August 8, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lance Stephenson Sr. has listed St. John’s as one of his son’s finalists, along with Kansas, USC, UCLA and Memphis, while Lance himself also mentions Texas and Tennessee.
Posted by THE_VOL on August 8, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stephenson is NOT being actively recruited by TN. He's a chemistry killer with weak fundamentals so why bother with him. As for Chism, he will hopefully find a more aggressive approach to his post game at this camp. If he doesn't and continues through this season with the up and down performances of the last 2 years, whatever pro prospects he might envision will become pipe dreams. At this point he's not even close to leaving after this season.
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