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Hopson vs. Smith made Rocky royal
Tennessee incoming freshman Scotty Hopson takes a shot during the championship game of the Pilot Rocky Top League on Wednesday at Bearden High School.
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Fans were turned away on the final night of Pilot Rocky Top League action Wednesday at Bearden High School.
And the 3,000 or so who got in weren't disappointed, as Tennessee forward Tyler Smith and incoming freshman Scotty Hopson waged an intense battle in the title game.
Smith's HT Group team won - as it did every game, going 7-0 - leading to Smith being named the league's MVP.
Young Hopson, however, served notice he's as good as advertised and pushed Smith to the limit.
Hopson said the league served his purpose, and from the sounds of it, whet his appetite for the upcoming season.
"I needed this type of experience, especially going against Tyler,'' Hopson said. "I'm waiting to see how tough team workouts will be - I've heard a lot.
"I'm ready to see what (UT) coach (Bruce) Pearl can teach me so I can get better.''
Hopson was the first to admit he struggled with his 3-point shot in league action.
"I guess it's that I've been hitting the weights hard,'' he said. "I need to put more time in the gym. I'll knock it down during the season.''
Former UT fan-favorite Dane Bradshaw, who PA announcer Brian Tate tabbed as "The Mayor,'' said the league improved from year one to year two.
"The league was definitely deeper, and I was impressed with the talent here locally,'' Bradshaw said. "This year was more exciting with the number of incoming (UT) freshman that played.
"Since I've been standing here 60 or 70 people tried to get in but can't because of the fire code, or whatever.
It's a testament to the fan support basketball is getting in Knoxville.''
The difference in the title game was East Tennessee State's Courtney Pigram, who won his own personal duel with future UT point guard Bobby Maze, scoring 45 points including a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Here's a breakdown of what each of the current and future Vols showed this season:
-- Smith (power forward, small forward): Established himself as the unquestioned leader at UT with his play on the court, and his conduct off of it, attending most every PRTL game and spending time with fans and teammates.
-- Cameron Tatum (small forward): Showed shooting range, the ability to get to the rim and draw fouls, and hit free throws at an 80-percent clip.
-- Brian Williams (post): UT fans were excited to see how Williams has firmed up, leading to more energy, athleticism and dunks.
-- Josh Tabb (shooting guard): Stuck on a smallish team, Tabb was forced to step up in all facets, but struggled from the free throw line.
-- Wayne Chism (post, power forward): Entertaining and in top physical condition, but Chism didn't always bring his 'A' game to PRTL action and didn't dominate as expected.
-- Maze (point guard): Strong, competitive and controlled, the Vols' point guard position is in good hands. Impressive driving ability and shot selection.
-- Hopson (shooting guard): He'll be virtually unstoppable on offense when his 3-point shot falls, but his defensive skills need work.
-- Daniel West (point guard): Tenacious defender, plays under control and has great court awareness. West is a winner.
--Steven Pearl (small forward, power forward): Played hard and fast, showed improvement on defense and with ball handling.
-- Phillip Jurick (post): A great shot blocker and strong in spurts, but needs work on his conditioning and offensive game.
Injuries kept returning UT players Ryan Childress (knee) and J.P. Prince (shoulder) out of action. Childress (power forward) is expected out until September while Prince (small forward) will return in August.
UT signees Emanuel Negedu (power forward) and Renaldo Woolridge (small forward, power forward) were not yet enrolled in school and didn't play.
Mike Griffith may be reached at griffithm@knoxnews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by threehundredbowler on July 5, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wayne Chism didn't always bring his A game last season either.
Posted by Pullingguard on July 5, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Vols could be really GOOD this coming season, and it will be determined early just how good, for they have some tough competition early in the season. Should be interesting Winter for Vol BB fans.
Posted by smashmouth98 on July 5, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm really excited about Maze. He is a difference maker and very fun to watch. He will even play defense!! Great dribbling skills.
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on July 5, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is all good!
I'm probably spoiled, but I would have really liked to see a 43% Three Ball Shooter surface in the PRTL. At teh same time it appears that we have players that will take it inside and drive the posts players crazy.
With Negedu and Woolridge still to be added to the mix, who knows maybe we will not need the three ball as much. With slashers they do collapse the defenders into the low post, and that opens the 12 foot jump shots up.
Posted by tnbud62 on July 5, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we look to have 3 lottery picks for next year and a casper the ghost in hiding as well,the team will be even more exciting than last year and playing time will weed the bad eggs out
Posted by CatScratchFever on July 6, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Something interesting. Joe Lunardi of ESPN has Tennessee a 7th seed in the 2009 Pre-Season NCAA Tournament Bracket. Florida was a six, Miss State also a seven, Kentucky a nine, Ole Miss a ten and Alabama a 12 seed. Apparantly he sees the SEC being balanced but not too strong.
He also has Memphis as a number one seed. Go figure.
Posted by BillVol on July 6, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is the "most underrated" player given the "Ernie Grunfeld Award"? Any award named for Ernie G should be given to the MVP or Most Outstanding Player. The Allan Houston Award should go to best FT shooter or something. Or for a player least likely to play in the NCAAs. Please don't rank Houston over Ernie G in anything.
And why do we have awards named for football players? Guys, this isn't helping us to shake our image as a football school! As Fulmer says, "we are beating ourselves" with this kind of mentality!
Posted by txvolsfan on July 6, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope this team gels together like last year and they could be unstoppable. I like the respect for Tyler that I see from Hopson!!!
Tyler has really become a leader for this team!!!
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN(FLAVOLSFAN)
99GATOR, I live in your world now.
Just moved to Gulf Breeze
Posted by volfan5521 on July 6, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't worry too much about not having a 45% three baller surface in the PRTL, although Tatum might have been close. The Vols won't be in as much need of the three ball with the list of assasins they will have in the paint next season and bamazed running the point. Dunks will be this groups shot of choice.
Posted by marc_ash on July 6, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What the hell does "whet his appetite" mean?
Don't they edit this stuff before they post it online?
Posted by BigOrangeVol on July 6, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marc what is it you don't understand? It is a common phrase that means to have one's interest in something stimulated or sharpened. Obviously it comes from usuing a whetstone to sharpen an edge.
Posted by BigOrangeVol on July 6, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have no idea what "usuing" is though. :-)
Posted by marc_ash on July 6, 2008 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lol, good stuff.
Posted by mparker on July 6, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bigorange:
lots of people screw up 'moot point' as 'mute point' too. oh well, not like I don't fkuc up on occasion....
Posted by mparker on July 6, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I liked the summary on West. maybe, just maybe, we'll have TWO quality point guards???
I rememver when we had CJ, Chris, Jajuan, and Dane all in the lineup. It was like having four PG's on the court, well, sort of.
Posted by b_neas on July 7, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tatum will be a 40% 3pt shooter on the season and Hopson will be at or over 40% too. Like mentioned earlier though this team will play above the rim moreso than any team Pearl has coached yet. It is going to be fun to watch them develop, and unlike previous years teams, should get better with every game.
Posted by parottthead on July 7, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know the league was just a reason to let fans see the guys mix it up, but since they kept score would it be too much to ask Mr. Reporter to give us the final tally? He mentioned that Courtney Pigram scored 45 points. Was that 45 out of the team's 47, or 45 out of 150?
pH
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on July 7, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
B AMAZING!
Posted by orangebloodgmc on July 7, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our converging assemblage of talent sounds awesome; just glad we didn't get a bunch of folks hurt while playing in this league.
Posted by ckwhite on July 7, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The winner of the Bradshaw award should think long and hard about what an honor it is to carry that name.......oh, wait a min.
Posted by Hoops43 on July 7, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pigram scored 45 of the team's 131. He hit several "dagger" 3s to seal the game. He probably won 2 or 3 of the games with his NBA+ 3 pt barrages. If he were playing at UT I guarantee that he wouyld have been either the MVP or MOP. Tatum was the only Vol injured during play and it was a strained groin. At this point, Bobby Maze is much further along than West which played for me on the championship HT Group.
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