The nerves and anxiety are gone for incoming Tennessee freshman point guard Daniel West.
Knoxville has become home for the Saginaw, Mich., basketball product.
"There's love everywhere here,'' said West, who led Saginaw High School to two state championships. "You don't have to go anywhere and worry about anything negative.''
West, who helped lead HT Group (6-0) to a 128-123 overtime win over the News Sentinel (2-4) Monday, said he has grown more comfortable with each Pilot Rocky Top League game at Bearden High School.
"I've gotten to have a lot of fun and play like I know I can,'' said West, who scored a season-high 19 points and dished out eight assists. "At first, I was kind of tense and nervous out there.
"I was worried about how people would think about me because I didn't come in here with the big name like some other guys.''
One of those guys is West's roommate at UT, McDonald's All-American Scotty Hopson.
Hopson showed up two hours early Monday just to watch West play. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the two face off in the PRTL championship game.
"We've talked a lot of trash about that game - a whole lotta trash,'' Hopson said, laughing. "Me and Daniel compete at everything. NBA Live (video game), and we play a lot of pool.''
Hopson, who is from Hopkinsville, Ky., said he and West like to kid each other about their different backgrounds.
"He claims to have a lot of city in him,'' Hopson said. "Sometimes he acts hard, but I don't know if I really see that in him.''
What Hopson said he did see in West was a lot of Rice Krispy treats.
"One night his mom bought him a big box of them, and by the next day they were all gone,'' Hopson said.
As for the hard-scrabble background, West seems relieved to have left that behind.
"You look around in this (Bearden) gym, there's maybe two security guards in the whole place,'' West said. "Back home in a gym like this? There's like a SWAT team, the whole police force.''
Jalen Steele, a rising Fulton senior, sent Monday's game into overtime with a 3-pointer in the final seconds for the News Sentinel.
Steele had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Damon Johnson had 30 points, and UT signee Phillip Jurick had 11 rebounds and five blocked shots.
Tyler Smith led HT Group with 33 points and Courtney Pigram added 30.
Tatum Sits Out: Rising sophomore Cameron Tatum sat out First Tennessee's 92-91 win over Toyota of Knoxville (3-3) with a sore groin.
"I wanted to play, but they wouldn't let me, just as a precaution,'' said Tatum, who suffered the injury when he came down awkwardly on a dunk Wednesday. "I just need to rest it a couple of more days. I did a little running Saturday and earlier today. I'll be back to work on Thursday.''
Former UT standout Jon Higgins hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left to lift First Tennessee (2-4) to its season-ending win. Higgins and Boo Jackson had 24 apiece while Dane Bradshaw led Toyota with 23 and Tony White Jr. had 21.
Toyota plays the News Sentinel in the PRTL third-place game at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Ray's EST 127, Richardson Construction 112: Bobby Maze scored 37 points and Scotty Hopson added 34 to lead Ray's ESG.
Michael Blue, a former Bearden High and Hiwasee standout, led Richardson (1-5) with 40 points and put on a dazzling dunk display in his final game of the PRTL season.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 21
Volgrad777 writes:
daniel west has a lot of raw talent and will be a solid player in a couple of years. But hes not in the same league right now as Bobby Maze , this guy is a player and a tested player. He can perform in the SEC on a regular basis , West can hopefully carry over his recent success to the regular season , but hes got a ton to learn and hes no Bobby Maze yet. There is the gem of the class , without him we are hurting at the point. No way West can run the offense this year and be the leader we need. He will in two years i believe. Right now thats Bobby Maze.
Hunter writes:
Last year a point guard who did nothing but keep the ball in the hands of Chris, Jajuan, Tyler, and Wayne would have gotten us to the Alamo. Here's hoping West and Maze are the answer, though replacing Chris AND Jajuan will not be as easy as some on this board believe.
Ironcity writes:
Does anyone believe Jurick will see the floor at UT? My guess is he will transfer before his after he redshirts next year.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Look at Dane Bradshaw and Ryan Childress. They both looked like they should never see the floor early in their careers. Bradshaw became a solid player as has Childress. If Pearl can get those two to play ball, he can make anyone a basketball player. On any great team you need a couple of role players anyway.
TommyJack writes:
IronCity and Fritter: What is the knock on Jurick?
Lofton4Three writes:
lacking footwork and not a very good skillset is the word on Jurick. His AAU team also has been a question in that it's very weak. He's ranked #91 in ESPN's top 100 for 2008.
TommyJack writes:
Jurick from East Ridge High...my old alma mater...was never a bastion of basketball power...at least not in the day..100 years ago...lol.
VOLS85 writes:
No offense, but Childress did not do one thing to show that he was a solid player last year. Childress had a few games in the tournament his freshman year, but aside from that he has looked like a I-AA player otherwise.
Haven't seen Jurick play yet, but he had to be a 4 star for some reason or another. If he doesn't pan out, then we have a new scholarship open; if he does, then excellent!
Glad to see west put up some points but I agree that he is likely a project, with bobby maze being a beast...
volwalk writes:
We have plenty of inside weapons with Tyler, Chism, Williams and Negedu..possible a return from Childress, Jurick and Woolridge. THe key to next season is how the team gels with the new guards and swing players ie. Maze, West, Hopson, Tatum, Tabb and Prince. Lots of new faces and inexperience in the back court.
The front court has experience, size and depth...the back court needs experience--hopefully this will happen before we get into SEC play.
GO VOLS!!!
murrayvol writes:
I'm not ready to throw Jurick under the bus just yet. If he's willing and able to bang people around and create space for the scorers, I'll be fine with that. Chism has more tools but he's not a consistent banger. A lot depends on the progress of Williams.
murrayvol writes:
TommyJack: Well, I'll be danged. East Ridge HS. Small world...sort of. I'm a Soddy-Daisy alum (64'). Couple of boy's championships in 48' & 49'. Not much after that. 3 on 3 girls teams were tougher than pine knots forever.
murrayvol writes:
TJ: Have you noticed that Chattanooga has changed a bit since we roamed around those old haunts? Mostly for the better.
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
It is all Good!
Only real knock I have heard on Jurick is he can be lazy, takes alot of plays off. If that is true CBP will help him correct that, or help him to theDoor.
TommyJack writes:
Murray: Don't get back there much, but yeah, Chatty is on the move!
Lady8: If Jurick is lazy, he picked the wrong coach...You are right.
Volchaz writes:
This summer league play is a great prelude for what we are going to see this next season. Sounds like we are going to have fun watching these boys play. GOVOLS!
volwalk writes:
Fritter,
Lets first give this kid a chance under CBP's coaching, before you throw him away or write him off. I'm sure that Phillip Jurick and Coach Pearl would greatly appreciate your assistance.
Who would of thought that Brian Williams would have contributed like he did last year??? Jurick will do just fine his first year as a role player and will be able to provide a little more depth and toughness. I will trust Bruce and staff with this kid---they seem to have a knack for finding raw talent and molding them to fit their system.
GO VOLS!
Ironcity writes:
I started to worry about Jurick last year when he couldn't average 10 points a night and 10 rebounds for a team that only won half there games in high school. In the summer league he gets in foul trouble where refs typically don't call fouls.
Since he is the biggest guy out there on the court he should be able to get 10 a game on put backs and dunks yet he typically has around 5 points a game. It appears he can block some shots and its my understanding that he is pretty athletic so I guess there is hope, however I just don't think we have enough scoring on our team that we can have someone that can't score at all and will not be able to play 10 minutes without fouling out.
b_neas writes:
This may be the ideal situation for West. Play limited minutes this year and learn a lot. Then when Maze probably leaves at the end of the year, West can start as a soph.
b_neas writes:
Childress was hurt all last year, which is why he got limited minutes. Torward the end of Childress' soph year he was a very very significant contributor, grabbing boards and hitting 3's, and bringing great energy. We will see with his recent injury if he gets back to the same form he was in winding down his soph year. Hopefully he will. As mentioned by someone else, gelling will be this teams only issue. They will be fine in the scoring dept, and should be better than last year on the defensive end, simply because we will have better athletes on the floor.
cjraney writes:
Ever wonder how Mich St always makes the tourney and usually wins at least a couple games even when you've never heard of anyone on their roster?
The answer is they stockpile guys like Jurick. Time will tell.
THE_VOL writes:
Reality check time:
DADDYVOL: I guess that's your "marc_az$ IMPACT PLAYER" prediction for the year???? If so, you're as wrong as Marcy Girl was.
alfrizzle: Childress a solid player???? What were YOU watching last year????
Oh MARCY GIRL...I'm sure you'll give us your expert analysis and predictions once again - need some laughs!!!!
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