Five of Tennessee's six incoming men's basketball players are enrolled in classes while the other is expected to start school this fall.
Freshmen Phillip Jurick (post) and Renaldo Woolridge and Emmanuel Negedu (forwards) enrolled in the second term of summer school Monday, according to UT assistant coach Jason Shay.
Point guard Bobby Maze, a transfer from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College is finishing up his junior college education and will join the team this fall, Vols' assistant Steve Forbes said.
Freshmen Scotty Hopson (shooting guard) and Daniel West (point guard) enrolled in the first term of summer school and have been attending classes.
Shay said the freshmen who started classes Monday passed the eyeball test.
"Renaldo has some muscle definition. Like (UT assistant) Tony Jones likes to say from time to time, 'He looks like a thoroughbred, not a loaf of bread,' " Shay said. "Renaldo has a frame that will enable him to put on more muscle mass. It will be interesting to see how he gets ready in the next four or five weeks."
Negedu, the last of the Vols to sign in this recruiting class, is the most physical of the bunch and has drawn favorable comparisons to former UT player Duke Crews.
"Emmanuel is already a physical specimen, but his explosiveness and athleticism will continue get even better once he's in an organized weight program," Shay said. "We're going to see how much higher he can jump, how much faster he can run the floor and how his lateral quickness will improve.
"Phillip has the frame to add weight and muscle mass. He probably has the furthest to go of the three as far as strength and conditioning.''
Maze, who came to the Knoxville area on his own in June to play in the Pilot Rocky Top League, is on pace, Forbes said.
"Bobby is just finishing up his junior college stuff," Forbes said. "We knew enrolling in the summer was never an option for him. He'll be here and ready in the fall term."
The Vols don't begin organized team workouts until August.
Tough Tyler: UT junior Tyler Smith is finishing up his stint at the LeBron James Skills Academy today in Akron, Ohio.
The camp, which features top returning collegiate players, started on Saturday. Former Vols' guard JaJuan Smith attended the camp last year.
Other players in attendance this year included Austin Daye (Gonzaga), Dajuan Summers (Georgetown), Derrick Brown (Xavier), Devon Downey (South Carolina), Hasheen Thabeet (UConn), Jarvis Varnado, (Mississippi State), Kalin Lucas (Michigan State), Kyle Singler (Duke), Terrence Williams (Louisville) and Tyreke Evans (Memphis).
Assistants' Salaries: The proposed new salaries of UT associate head coach Tony Jones and assistants Steve Forbes and Jason Shay were sent to the school's Human Resources department for approval last week, said Tiffany Carpenter, the athletic department's director of public relations.
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Comments » 70
bcbobcat82 writes:
I cant wait to see NEGADU, MAZE, HOPSON, WEST, JURICK, and WOOLRIDGE in TENNESSEE ORANGE!!! This feels like a dream!! Please Lord let the stay off DRUGS!! JUST SAY NO BOYS!!!! GO VOLS!
caskew#218608 writes:
NegEdu, not NegAdu!!! Come on Griff....it's the second time you've done this!
InterestingStory writes:
Fix that please, it is NegEdu!!
KNSsports writes:
It has been fixed.
- KNS sports
utchris writes:
If it is for top RETURNING players, then why is Tyreke Evans there?
ZR writes:
UT will dominate the round of 32!!! Baaah
memphistenn2117 writes:
55 days til another start of an underachieving Tennessee Football team
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dang, Pearl, recruiting!
What a concept, you trying to win something?
mattlock writes:
Ashley, read the whole article, he's finishing up his JUCO work this summer or he would have already enrolled. You don't have to continue to be uninformed, just take the time to read something all the way through and actually understand it instead of trying to use a piece of the article to slam Pearl (for reasons only known to you).
News Flash, ASH - you don't have to slam Pearl just because you love Fulmer. You should be happy Pearl is here, it was a big wake up call to Fulmer that he better spend less time at the Shoney's hot bar and more time out recruiting talent.
King53 writes:
Ashley - your comments really are a joke. get off your high horse and and come back to earth. By showing your loyalty to one TN coach by bashing another holds no water here. you discredit yourself with each post and any message you are trying to make gets lost in your mundane vitriol.
CoverOrange writes:
Ash, was also wondering about how Maze could be in Knoxville for RTL and in Kansas finishing up at Hutch CC at the same time. Can not say whether that is a sign of things to come or a reflection on Pearl since he has yet to enroll. I do worry (with nothing to base it on) that come September that Maze may be declared ineligible.
memphistenn2117 writes:
Peyton Manning vs Memphis: 0-1
Peyton Manning vs Florida: 0-4
Peyton Manning National Titles: 0
VOLS85 writes:
Tennessee vs. Memphis State in football
20-1
Don't go there you little gnat in college football...
VOLS85 writes:
You better work on your fiddlin', because you're doing a great job of being second!
rustyfourqbtn writes:
ashley, please try and understand. bobby has been in summer school all summer at pellissippi cc finishing his junior coolege degree. he is taking those classes at pellissipi to add to hutchison cc. he can not enroll at UT until he has his junior college degree. if anything him chosing to come on to knoxville and finish here, it just shows how dedicated to the vols he is. we don't compare fulmer to pearl. fulmer has won at a program that already had 5 national titles. pearl took the arm pit of sec bball aka(UT BASKETBALL BEFORE PEARL), and made UT a top 10 national program in 2 and a half years. there is nothing that any coach in any sport in america has done thats close to that. when pearl retires and fulmer retires pearl will be UT basketball and fulmer will just be another good vol coach but neyland will always be UT football. i dont hold pearl and fulmer to the same standard because pearl is out of fulmers league. i hold pearl to a higher standard but he always meets my standard and usually exceeds it. it took fulmer 6 years to win the SEC and pearl only 3 years and fulmer had unbelievable talent as soon as he took over while, no offense to j.smith bradshaw and lofton but pearl had some mediocre talent at best. pearl is a great coach and fulmer is a good coach with great talent. all this being said i hope they both go undefeated.
TommyJack writes:
And whatever happened to "the uncle"?
tigervol9802 writes:
For anyone who cares and doesn't know, and all of you should care.....
In the midst of the 10,000 articles about Lady Vols players playing in the most boring league ever invented, what former coaches are doing, and articles about players from other SEC schools, this website never reported that #5 has signed to play with the Nuggets Summer League team in Vegas. League runs July 11-20.
Good luck #5 and prove the experts wrong again!
TommyJack writes:
Marc: More likely, The Solution himself.
jclowers writes:
Congratulations to these kids for using their talents to make it to the University of Tennessee and have a chance to graduate with a college degree and/or work themselves into the NBA. Let's not get to ahead of ourselves. Pearl's first recruiting class was supposed to bring us national titles (Chism, Crews, Tabb, R. Smith, M. Johnson) and look at them now Chism has a chance to be a really good big man, Tabb is a great defender off the bench and the other 3 guys are gone. Let's not go predicting any titles yet, but it is great to see a lot of talent come here to play basketball. But let's face it...it's talent, let me see it on the floor.
CoverOrange writes:
Peyton Manning vs Memphis 1-1 (started 1994 game)
Peyton Manning vs Florida 0-3 (did not start 1994 game)
Dan Marino, John Elway, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, et al, ZERO national titles.
mattlock writes:
Ashley, I'll try to answer your question with some reason and keep my fingers crossed. . .Pearl coming here and doing what he has done raised expections for all sports at UT, but especially a football program that has great tradition and great facilities. In 3 years he took a desolate program and made it a national contender. We made it to #1 in the polls, three NCAA tournaments (with Buzz's NIT talent) and two Sweet 16s (more than any coach at UT). Since Pearl has been here, he has been on ESPN, on Rome, in SI, etc. etc, he has landed recruits we never could have talked to before, and he has overseen an upgrade to TBA, new athletic facilities and a new student athlete center.
Fulmer won a championship in 1998, but who can argue that enthusiam around the football program has been fading, especially after embarassing bowl losses and losing to Vandy and SC at home. Do you remember getting spanked by Maryland and Clemson? I was at the Peach Bowl, it was horrible. If anything, Pearl has HELPED Fulmer in recruiting by once again bringing national attention to UT sports.
It doesn't mean I'm not a true VOL just because I expect to see improvement out of Fulmer and the football program. I don't want to get blown out by Florida every year, and as a season ticket holder, I never want to witness another loss to Vandy - especially at home. Don't deny that we had better talent than Vandy AND SC when we lost to both of them at a place where we used to be unbeatable. If there is nothing wrong with the ship, why the firing of those assitant coaches?!?!
And it doesn't mean you have to bash Pearl or belittle his accomplishments just because some of us are questioning our program under Fulmer. Only an idiot would say that what Pearl has done with the basketball program is anything short of remarkable. . .you wouldn't say that now would you?
murrayvol writes:
mattlock: Wasting your time man.
TommyJack writes:
Ashley, ASHLEY: Are you serious?
rustyfourqbtn writes:
jerry green never won a conference title for starters. he never had the attendance for mens basketball close to where pearl has it. green never had one good recruiting class. he coached o'neals players. pearl has had 2 great recruiting classes in 3 years. and most importantly green nor fulmer have never got the university the kind of exposure that pearl is getting us now. pearl sells the university while the university has to sell fulmer. do you see the difference?
tigervol9802 writes:
Well..........
-Outright conference title
-#2 seed twice
-Back to back Sweet 16s
-Hasn't been beaten by 30 by a mid-major in NCAAs
-Had an SEC POY
-2 year win streak at home
There you go.
I really think Ashley is either Don in Sweetwater, Mike Hamilton, or Coach Fulmer himself.
chrisw2967 writes:
Ashley: what has Fulmer done since 98 ? and you talked about Pearl chocking ? I guess Fulmer never chocked? he either chocked or just got out coached , you pick one thats easier on your pride
chrisw2967 writes:
Ashley your the one who said Pearl CHOKED and you still never answered the question what has Fulmer done since 98 , let me help you , he has done nothing.Pearl is the man on campus now.
dfreeman writes:
Come on Ash, you don't actually have all that animosity for Pearl do you? If you have a problem with the anti-Fulmer crowd that's fine. Bashing Pearl to prove your point is just plain stupid! He is the best basketball coach we have ever had!
rustyfourqbtn writes:
i haven't been high in about 6 years ashley. you must be wrong though because everybody agrees with me and disagrees with you. if you knew anything about sports or ever played a sport you would know how poorly our football team has been coached for 10 years or so. our basketball program is at the highest level ever and our football program is not close to being where it once was. you tell me which coach is doing a better job.
rustyfourqbtn writes:
oh ashley i forgot the fact that you were completely wrong about maze and summer school but you never responded to the fact. guess when you assume and then you're proven wrong you just avoid the topic.let me say it again. BOBBY MAZE WAS IN SCHOOL ALL SUMMER AND MOVED TO KNOXVILLE EARLY TO BE NEAR THE TEAM AND COACH PEARL DID'NT MAKE A SINGLE MISTAKE BY LETTING THIS HAPPEN.
overatedvols writes:
Tiger news. Doneal Mack attempting to come back to the team. Former Tiger Rodney Carney traded from Phil to Minnesota. Former Tiger CDR interviewed on local Memphis station was clearly upset with where he was picked in the draft. He said his main goal now is to prove them wrong. He had this same attitude last march with everyone was picking against Memphis. As they advanced to the natl. champ. game he was never satisfied with any win during the tourney and expected to win. He did prove them wrong and he was the most valuable player on the team for 3 seasons. Amazing he was picked so late. A first team all american. I'd watch New Jersey this year. I'd say they are going to be much much better. The guy is good.
I'll keep you guys posted as any new Tiger news rolls in. No need to thank me.
BigOrangeVol writes:
TJ & Marc:
FYI, I can confirm that Vincent Eugene Ridley is 39-40 years old and does live in Washington, D.C.
That being said, I cannot confirm or deny that he may or may not be Maze's uncle but at this point I'm betting he's legit! Why would someone from D.C. register under his real name and make that claim? Why be so defensive of Bobby (like an uncle) unless he actually is? I'll get more intel as I have the time and opportunity.
BTW, this is my 200th post; Woo-Hoo!!!
BigOrangeVol writes:
In further breaking news, this just in....
Hey Overbloated, nobody north or east of Somerville cares about West Tennessee State Normal School! Like your city, it has nothing more than a regional interest to anyone. I'm sure that the folks in Earle, Atoka and Byhalia think your something special but to the civilized world you're nothing more than the place where Elvis died taking his final dump.
overatedvols writes:
Good one BigOrange.
Yep, i'm sure those people around the country say Memphis..whew.. who cares, but now that Knoxville area..that's something special.
memphistenn2117 writes:
Marc,
Memphis is a better basketball program than Tennessee, bottom line. Once Tennessee realizes that, then we can have intelligent conversations about our two programs. Just because you beat us in 2008 does not mean you are the better program. UT will never be considered a better program until they hand JUST ONE Finaly Four banners in the building that aren't Women's. Memphis now has 3...time to catch up
memphistenn2117 writes:
"hang JUST ONE final four banner"---sorry for the wrong spelling
mattlock writes:
Ask Tony Harris what he thought of Jerry Green's coaching. Here is the difference in Pearl and Green. Green came into a program and followed a great recruiter (Kevin O'Neill) who had the team stocked with talent (Harris, Yarbrough, Victor, Black, etc) He took great players, rolled out the basketball and played golf the whole time he was here. NONE of those players made improvements in their time here and in fact all of them went backwards. Green took great players and made them good.
Enter Pearl, who comes in after nice guy Buzz Peterson who couldn't recruit OR coach. Pearl takes a team of players, most of who couldn't play, much less start anywhere else in the SEC (except Lofton)and turns them into SEC Champs and an NCAA tournament team. Dane Bradshaw spent three years riding the pine and no-one knew who JaJuan Smith was. . .what do we think of them after their short time spent playing for Pearl.
Don't compare what Jerry Green did to what Pearl was doing. Green was the epitome of a coat-tail rider who rode the ship down. . .Pearl is building the ship back up with less talent.
Really, if you can't see that then you're not capable of having a true sports discussion and you should just stick to posting the number of days until your most favorite coach in the whole wide world gets to take the field against UCLA with better talent and pray he doesn't end up getting beat by a better football minds. It makes me shudder to think about Fulmer trying to match wits with Neuheisel and Norm Chow. Keeping my figers cross that talent beats coaching like it did back in 1998. . . :)
mattlock writes:
The problem with Memphis is that the city and the university and all their other sports teams are garbage, and since I can't get past that, I can't have an intelligent conversation about their basketball program. Yeah, its a good program, but I don't think I could ever lower myself to be a Memphis fan. Its like saying how great the rims are on my POS Ford Pinto. . .so what, I still have to drive a Ford Pinto?
dfreeman writes:
mattlock - that's funny!
memphistenn - Memphis isn't a better program! Memphis just plays that favorable schedule every year! all-time wins in the UT vs. UM games proves that! We own you! We didn't just beat you in 08, we beat you for the second year in a row with a less talented team!
Here's an AP particle for you to chew on from ESPN's website:
_________________________________________
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Memphis wanted to prove it really was the best team in the country, maybe even make a run at perfection.
Turns out, the Tigers aren't even best in their own state.
__________________________________________
How funny is that last sentence... hahahahahahaha!!!
Colliervol writes:
One little note memphistenn. You need to bring something a little stronger than that if you want to play here.
Peyton Manning= Super Bowl Ring and NFL Hall of Fame. And by the time he retires, he will be considered as one of the top 5 QB's to ever lace them up. Right there with Unitas, Montana, Brady, etc. If you can't understand that simple concept, I can't help you.
You guys don't be too hard on the Tiger fans. You simply have to understand that they have one sport in their pitiful little athletic program to discuss year round. And you have to give them credit for perpetuating the delusions of grandeur. I mean they've talked themselves into thinking they are the new UCLA dynasty. (Of course, it would help if they could win just ONE before proclaiming that.) Remember, nobody remembers who finished second except the one that did. So go ahead and hang that second place banner. Outside of Shelby County, nobody cares.
Cancel this series. I'll push the reject button if Mike Hamilton can't.
BigOrangeVol writes:
It always boils down to their insignificance, inferiority, jealousy and insecurity. I'm almost 50 years old and I can't remember a time when west Tennessee didn't feel like they had to prove something to the rest of the state; yet none of the rest of us care. It's understandable that they will forever be jealous of what middle and east Tennessee have to offer. You couldn't pay me enough to live down there! The Shelby Co. population is 1.6 times larger than Davidson, 2.2 times larger than Knox and 2.9 times larger than Hamilton yet Memphians have always been obsessed that the state capital has never been theirs ; Nashville, Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Kingston but no Memphis. They want to be the center of attention as our states largest city but alas that will never happen unless your talking about murder rates or crooked politicians. I'm sure the 85% of Tennessee residents living outside Shelby County would be more than happy to give you to Mississippi or Arkansas - where you belong. Ya’ll should just be content that the rest of the state tolerates you! So go beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud and be happy that technically you are Tennesseans. Hey, you’ve got Graceland, some ducks, a fake pyramid and the Pink Palace; nobody can or wants to take those away from you!
BigOrangeVol writes:
Oh PLEASE!!! Take a Valium dude! It's called "smack" and the goofball Memphis Tiger stooges get on the UT site and start this stuff every now and then just like Tide, Cat and Gator fans do.
The Tiger High group started this by ripping the Vols, the university, Vol fans, the SEC and Knoxville. All I've done, as many others, is post a little fun-loving rebuttal smack. They are broad-based analogies and generalizations. They aren’t for the purpose of belittling anyone in particular. Go buy yourself a sense of humor.
If you're happy in Brownsville or Paris congratulations and more power to ya. We have tons of alumni and fans in Shelby County and I get together with lots of them every year. I spend an appreciable amount of time in west TN and have many friends there (even Memphis, Ark and Ole Miss fans); we crack on each other all the time. 90% of my posts, as many other folks on here, are just tongue-n-cheek. Because of my familiarity with the area, if I wanted to get brutal and mean-spirited I could.
Do you really take all these posts so seriously? Relax, you should chill before you pop an aneurism or something. Geez Louise!
overatedvols writes:
BigOrange, I know of no one here that is jealous of east tennessee. Actually we're glad we don't live in the land of trailer parks. This is by far the best part of Tenn. What is there to be jealous of over there? More trailer parks per square mile than any other area in the country? More red necks? More guys wearing suspenders and overalls around town? Dollywood? More people with lower than average IQ's?
Oh, nevermind just talking smack...rebuttal smack. These are just broad based analogies and generalizations.
overatedvols writes:
Riddle of the day:
What's orange and sits in front of the television in March? The Vols basketball team watching the NCAA tournament.
On a serious note, Pierre Niles is said to be following a rigorous workout schedule and diet. Several people have said he was sticking to it and has lost considerable weight. When asked what his goals for next season was, he said his main 3 were to lose another 40lbs, get more playing time next season and to slap a Vol fan when they play Tenn.
BigOrangeVol writes:
The ONLY thing worth while in Mempho is Memphis in May. That's the only time it smells good down there. Actually that's the only time of the year that it doesn't stink to high heaven.
I'll reiterate: Knoxville/Knox Co. and Nashville/Davidson Co. are higher than Memphis/Shelby Co. in the percentage of High School graduates, college graduates, average value of homes and per capita income. You don't even want to start to compare UT vs. West Tennessee State Normal School in academics!!! Every national university comparison has UTK in the Top 100 but you won't find Memphis State in the Top 300!
Other than Chickasaw Gardens, you have to come out to Bartlett or Germantown not to be in the projects or low-income government housing. I guess they'll have more trailer parks down there when ya'll can afford 'em, can qualify for home loans and learn to read a mortgage!
The reason Memphians don’t wear suspenders is because they are so mentally taxing for you… ya’ll can’t figure out how they work. That’s why you drive down Poplar and all you see are guys with their britches falling down around their knees. Someone should come down there and teach a free five week course in learning how to use braces and suspenders. The city should fund it as a beautification project.
The Great Smoky Mountains vs Mud Island and a putrefied Mississippi River?
Dollywood vs. Libertyland?
Now I KNOW your nuts! C’mon, you're kidding right?
volnknox writes:
overrated- I have been to both places for a consiredable amount of time ( Memphis and Knoxville) By far knoxville is much cleaner, I never felt safe to walk the streets in Memp.) and i am not alone many people I know avoid trips that led them even close to memphis. So you must be in denial or you are a hoodrat yourself.
askUncleMaze writes:
What's up
Tommyjack & Marc_ash & BigorangeVol
IM back whats up? I was on vacation for the 4th of July. If u see B.Maze on campus ask him. He knows Im on here defending his name.... What's your ?
askUncleMaze writes:
Hello like I said before B.Maze is to busy doing his school work. Im the inside man on here. Trust me nobody on here knows him better than me... We have other family member's who read this junk yall post. Im the only one who responds..
askUncleMaze writes:
Thank you brownsvillevol....
I think he a great fit & he will do well with the team. B.Maze already knows the offense. Its the same offense he ran @ juco.
askUncleMaze writes:
NO I dont think so maybe 6'3" with shoes on & 6'2" without shoes... Im not 100% sure. My other nephew played PG @ Indiana Tech and I dont know how tall he is either... Thx You brownsvillevol Its simple if you have a question just ask thats why Im on here... Instead of the junk you read in the PRESS...
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