Former Tennessee men’s basketball star Chris Lofton will be headed to Turkey if a career in the NBA doesn’t work out.
Lofton said Monday night there’s a deal in place for him to have a one-year contract with Mersin of the Turkish Basketball League should he not make an NBA roster.
Lofton told the News Sentinel he hopes to attend an NBA training camp, though he does not know which NBA team at this point.
Lofton’s agent, Eric Fleisher, was reached for comment at 10:30 p.m. Monday, but said he was too “tired” to divulge any details.
Lofton, a two-time All-American and the SEC’s all-time leading 3-point shooter, played for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas earlier this month.
Lofton, however, averaged only seven minutes per contest, playing in four of Denver’s five games as an undrafted free agent.
He attempted nine shots in those four games and was 3-of-5 from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Mersin Province is populated by more than one million people with an urban population of more than 500,000. It’s located on the Mediterranean Coast of southern Turkey.
Interestingly enough, the name of Mersin’s shooting guard last season was Bernard King — though the former Texas A&M player is not believed to be related to the former UT and NBA great.
Mersin was 13-17 last season playing in Turkey’s premier league.
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Comments » 39
Bigger_Al writes:
Fiddlesticks. C-Lo should, and will, be in the NBA some day. He's the next Vinnie "Microwave" Johnson.
Bigger_Al writes:
By the way, Chris (if you read this), I bought my son Patrick a #5 orange jersey for his birthday, and it is one of his most prized possessions.
Bigger_Al writes:
Plus, C-Lo's Mom and Dad both bear hugged me after the Ohio State game down in San Antonio. I love that family.
invisiblekid writes:
I was hoping someone would give him a shot at the NBA but at least he should be making some good money overseas.
VOLS85 writes:
wish you the best chris!
BillVol writes:
There have been plenty of guys to start out in Europe and wind up in the NBA. However, I can think of none who went directly from the Turkish league to the NBA. It's too bad he couldn't have played in Italy or Spain -- Europe's top two leagues. His goal should be to play in the top division league in either Spain or Italy.
BigOrangeHustler writes:
They need to run an article on CJ Watson. Look for him to start at PG for Golden State with Baron Davis gone. you oughtta check out Watson's summer league stats- they're great.
BSweet writes:
Chris has tremendous heart. If he wants it bad enough, he'll get to the NBA. Good luck Chris!
texan writes:
As much as I like Chris and believe that he can compete anywhere, the bottom line is he had a lousy senior season and was outshined by superior talent on his team.
VOLS85 writes:
there's a reason for that texan, and if you can't recognize that cancer can take a lot away from you, then you obviously don't know what radiation does. There wasn't superior talent on the team, he is the all time leader in threes in the SEC...he would have broken the all time record had cancer not wreaked havoc on him. He was also the team leader in points...so lay off
lofton_for_3 writes:
chris will be truly missed next year in TBA but im glad to see that he will earn a living playing ball. he will have a chance to prove everyone wrong AGAIN and show his talent in game situations. i wish the best for chris and hope to see him beat the odds and earn a spot on a NBA roster some day, but if not, he will always UT and legend. i will always remember standing to my feet in TBA every time chris squared up for a fall away contested 30 footer. thanks for the memories chris you are a KING!
fulmersbelly writes:
Hopefully some NBA team will still make the gamble and take on a "project" "short" "overachiever" type player, because those are the gambles that if they pay off, do so big time. If not, I hope Chris is able to go overseas and do tremendously well over there.
I'd also like to give a big thumbs up to Griff for writing this article, and having the self control to not write "Ironically, the name of Mersin’s shooting guard last season was Bernard King.."
b_neas writes:
Whatever he does I hope he is happy. With what C-Lo has been through he deserves all the good things he can get.
Chainsaw writes:
Safe travels Chris! Shoot the lights out!
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Hey Vol in Dothan:
First of all, sorry you have to live in Dothan, Alabama. Second, you sound incredibly racist. Again, see Dothan, Alabama. You may think that it's ok to express your narrow opinion....and it is....But it's not ok to make rash generalizations and klan up. Get it? Good.....Please don't kill anyone today.....
bobbarbilly writes:
I lived for a while in a small place called Daleville which is just outside of Dothan at the gates of Ft Rucker. Nice folks. Terrible gnats though.
I hope I don't appear to be racist.
jasonn1970 writes:
I can't believe there's not an NBA general manager out there who realizes how valuable a shooter of Lofton's calibur would be to their team. Even if he's only a bench player/specialist......
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Bobbar:
You got me. I shouldn't link Dothan with this moron. My apologies to all open minded people in Dothan, Alabama.
bobbarbilly writes:
Well spoken apology hc. You walk tall.
THE_VOL writes:
Wow! MARCY_GIRL calling somebody moronic! That's the epitome of irony! Sorry though Marcy, you'll have to keep trying as nothing could ever top the BRIAN WILLIAMS WILL BE AN IMPACT PLAYER THIS YEAR post you made last year! That alone proved what your knowledge of the game and players is.
Of course you seem to forget that it was I who told everybody to shut up about CLo last year because they would be eating their words when the truth came out. 'Nuff said I guess. As for CLo and the NBA, well of course all Vol fans would like to see him there but the facts are what they are and it is highly unlikely of ever happening. We can love him all we want but he's still short, slow, and limited by NBA standards. Hmmmm, sounds awfully similar to Marcy's intellectual capability!
CoverOrange writes:
Would still like to know how you knew that, THE_VOL, when nobody on the team knew about it and C-Lo's roommate had just found out.
volunteer4life2 writes:
In my opinion most of the NBA is a bunch of showboat overpaid hooligans who half azz play basketball. And no I'm not being racist there are white thugs in there too. I wish Chris the best. He represented TN well and will always be one of my favorite all time players. Good luck Chris!
fishportion writes:
Sounds like Chris needs a better agent who isnt too "tired" to promote his players
bhjohnso#207063 writes:
I think Chris could be useful in the right situation in the NBA, with the right team with the right other pieces. I'm not overly fond of the NBA nor do I follow it that closely, but it does seem that NBA GMs put too much emphasis on things like size, athletic ability, etc. These things help, of course. I just know a pre-cancer Lofton was able to get shots against more athletic, bigger defenders throughout his career, and I think he could help out a team with his ability to make shots as a bench player, and his defensive liabilities could be made up for in limited minutes.
overatedvols writes:
Seems like a class act. Nothing negative from me. I wish him well.
overatedvols writes:
Definitely ready for football DaddyVol. I've been suffering since April. I can't get into sitting and watching 9 innings of baseball. Golf is worse. Not a tennis fan either. The only entertainment i've had is to be able to come over here and try to upset people. Sometimes that's even been tough. When I plan the days activities, it usually goes something like this, cut the grass, pay the bills and oh yea, go over to the vols site and aggravate em. Yep, it can be tough but somebody has to do it.
I figure if I can make it a few more weeks i'll have the olympics and when that's over football will be starting. Then i'll have survived the toughest months of the year, Apr-Aug.
As for football the Vols have a tough opener. Let's hope they can do better than last years Cal game. Need to take care of Alabama this year also. I don't remember if the Fla. game is away or at home but looks like Fulmer better get that one. Unbelievably the heat is on him. You people need to try being picked to finish 4th in the CUSA in order to appreciate what you have. You want to get rid of Fulmer? Please send him our way.
Oh, and by the way Tigers will slaughter the Vols in Jan.
bobbarbilly writes:
Well, rats!!!!!!!!! I was looking forward to that game orvols, now you have done went and spoiled the ending for me. What method of foretelling do you employ? Tea leaves...crystal ball...or the wag system?
overatedvols writes:
Complex mathmatical formula bobbar. Each time i've run it and plugged in the variables it comes out with Memphis by 20 to 30.
longtimefan writes:
overated, you really shouldn't start drinking so early in the day. if anybody wins that game by 20 or 30, it will be the VOLS. Tennessee will have even better athletes this year. I see this as being another exciting game between two very good teams. sorry you dont have a better football team where you could enjoy the fall season more. go ahead and talk smack about basketball for 6 more months, but we've got a football season to play.
THE_VOL writes:
LMFAO!!! MARCY - THE QUEEN OF CONTRADICTION!!! First - calls me out to post and THEN tells Turbo to "Do what the rest of the board does and move on to the next post." The rest of the board might move on (not!) but you sure as hell don't do ya QUEENIE!!?? PLEASE tell us exactly when you are going to post an intelligent FACT!!! Surely you know SOMEBODY that can tell you SOMETHING!!
You see Turbo - Marcy simply cannot stand the FACT that I have made numerous CORRECT posts regarding this team and all she has to stand on is "Brian Williams will be an IMPACT player this (last)year." She consistently refuses to debate FACTS with me and therefore simply attacks the messenger.
As for me knowing about Chris, how is not important.
THE_VOL writes:
Oh by the way - and this one's special for you MARCY - COLLEGE GAMEDAY will be making an appearance in Knoxville this season for BASKETBALL!!! Looking strongly at the FL game. So tell me I'm wrong on that one too MARCY!!!
DandyVol writes:
I had the same type of cancer that Chris had. It has been two years since my chemo and I am still not up to the strength and stamina which I had before the cancer. I would guess that Chris is still fighting the side effects and is also not up to full yet. A year in the Turkish league might do him good and give time for full recovery. If playing is not in his future, how about coaching?
overatedvols writes:
Sorry longtimevol but i'm a vol football fan. Always have been. So, I do have a football team, yours. Actually always have been for the Vols in football and just didn't pay much attention to the basketball team. Honestly, I pulled for the Vols in basketball in the SEC and when they weren't playing us. I had nothing against them..up until this past season when all the Vol trash talkers came out of the wood work talking like they were and always had been the superior basketball team. Rubbed me the wrong way and i'm still chaffed from it.
Still, come football season i'm a vols fan. Was watching the night they beat Fla. St. in the Fiesta Bowl to win the national championship with Tee Martin, Peerless Price, Cedric Wilson, Travis Henry. Watched em win a good one at Miami a few years back. Suffered thru the Fla. losses. A really bad loss to Nebraska in I believe the Orange Bowl. Can't stand Spurrier. Typical Vol fan. I don't think the SEC is 'the' conference in basketball but it definitely is in football. The absolute best football is played in the SEC.
Can't wait. Hope they beat UCLA and get off to a good start this season.
Marc, yes you may just want to sell the ticket, at least to the Memphis game. Gas prices are high these days. It will be double bad to drive over to Knoxville and spend all that money on gas just to witness a Memphis blowout. If you decide to go don't say I didn't tell you.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wonder how much in gas and beer it would take a 50+ pass 1971 Ford 429ci school bus to get from Mid Tenn to the Rose Bowl and back?
Probably leave 10-12 days early. My guess at 6 mpg aroung 500 gal or so. Trying to figure out a way for it to run on koolade. Easier to put the driver on Orange Grey Goose elixr and press on.
A/c depends on how many windows are up or down.
Could be a remake of Fandango, great flic.....
CoverOrange writes:
THE_VOL, I don't need to know how, but would Chris?
Marc, TheV has made two vague but correct predictions over the last 6 months ago. Vague in detail but not general guess work like most on here do. I believe he has a source or spends alot of time around the athletic department in some capacity.
BillVol writes:
Isn't Dothan called the "Circle City"? Or is that Indy?
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Indy is circle city. I live there (again) and remember it from the old days of traveling with a CB. Boy, that's funny to think about.
Raynoch writes:
Nice loyalty to UM. Root for the rival in football just because your team stinks. That is very weak.
ncvol writes:
Back to the article...Wish the best for Chris and hope he eventually plays in the USA.
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