Shooting guards top priority for Vols

Two of the top Tennessee men's basketball targets in the Class of 2009 aren't shy about their desire to visit Knoxville.

Shooting guards Roberto Nelson of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Tony Nixon of Chicago have said they'll likely use an official visit to Tennessee this fall.

Forward Ryan Childress is UT's only senior, but it's a virtual certainty that junior forward Tyler Smith will turn pro after this season, and there's a good possibility Scotty Hopson will turn pro after his freshman season if projected in the top half of the first round of the NBA draft. Wayne Chism submitted paperwork to the NBA evaluation committee after last season, indicating he, too, is considering leaving after the upcoming season.

Kenny Hall, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Stone Mountain, Ga., (Rivals No. 49, Scout's No. 31) is UT's only commitment for the Class of 2009, so the recruiting door is swinging open once again.

The Vols' interest in Dominic Cheek, a 6-5 shooting guard from St. Anthony's in Jersey City, N.J., has been well-documented. Cheek is rated the No. 11 overall player in the nation by both Rivals and Scout.

But with the summer AAU circuit and evaluation period recently completed, new names have popped up on UT's radar.

Nixon, a 6-5, 190-pounder, is considered among the latest and greatest after winning MVP honors at an AAU tournament in Arizona in July.

Nixon, who will no doubt have his talent rating adjusted by the national recruiting services, averaged nearly 20 points per game and opened the eyes of many at the tournament.

This won't be the first time the Seton Academy guard from Chicago has heard from the Vols.

"Tennessee contacted me when I was playing football,'' said Nixon, a receiver. "But I quit playing football after my sophomore year, so that was about a year ago.''

Nixon is also being recruited by Michigan, Gonzaga, Fresno State and George Mason.

"I can knock down the three consistently, I can run the floor, I can rebound and I can pass,'' Nixon said. "I can do what needs to be done to win.''

Nixon also does what needs to be done in the classroom, carrying a 3.0 grade point average.

His basketball IQ is just as high; Nixon is already well-versed in pressure techniques.

"My team presses,'' he said. "We run a 1-2-2, a diamond press, a full-court man press and a 2-2-1 trap,'' Nixon said. "I like playing defense, and I'm always sticking a guard or one of the best players.''

Nixon said his recruiting priorities are, in order, "a good education, a degree, playing time as a freshman and a fun environment.''

Nelson, like Nixon, has been successful enough in football to garner attention.

While he was never recruited by the football Vols, the quarterback/cornerback/receiver said he's still hearing from schools like Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, USC, Duke and California.

"I'll probably go basketball,'' said Nelson, who averaged 25 points for Santa Barbara (Calif.) High School last season. "I want to be in a position where I can showcase my talents and go from there. I'd like to play right away.''

Nelson said he has a brother who lives in La Vergne, Tenn., and has an interest in living in the region.

"It's nice out there; the weather is different,'' he said, "and my brother is out there, and he makes me feel at home.''

Nelson said he hasn't done a lot of research on the Vols, but he knows enough to be interested.

"Tennessee basketball is always doing good it seems,'' he said. "They have a good team, everyone knows that, and they've got my favorite colors.''

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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