Packer: Wharton helps change lives for the better

Former Tennessee guard Brandon Wharton was a smooth shooting lefty who let his play on the court do his talking. Now it's his talking that is helping the lives of people all over the country, working for the Foundation Recovery Network.

"We help people get into drug and alcohol rehab," Wharton said from his home in Nashville. "I majored in psychology at Tennessee and minored in business. I never thought I would have the opportunity to use both at the same time, but I am.

"We advertise across the nation for people with drug and alcohol problems to call in for help. We get thousands of calls a day from all over the country. When I get a call my job is to get them the help they need. We have three inpatient locations in California and one in Memphis.

"When the call comes in I have to figure out what it is that they're using and what's going on in their life. I love helping people, there's nothing like it."

Wharton said that just last week he helped a Wisconsin woman, who was dealing with serious life issues get the help that she needs.

"She called me and said that she was in her car on her cell phone," he said. "She said that her husband just kicked her out of the house because of her alcohol problem. I asked her if she had gotten her clothes out of the house and she told me that she had. We checked to see what kind of benefits that she had and I told her to go directly to the airport.

"We got her plane tickets and put her on the next flight to Memphis to get checked into the facility. She got there Saturday and has been receiving treatment for a week now. It makes me feel good that I was able to help a person at their lowest point in life, hopefully get her life turned around."

The company wants counselors who have been in sales. Wharton said that the sales background has given him the tools to convince the person on the other end of the phone to listen to the advice he's trying to give. Brandon spent the last seven years selling mortgages which game him the experience he needed.

"When most people call in they are under the influence," he said. "You have to handle them with kid gloves. With the economy the way it is right now, there are more and more people turning to drugs and alcohol. I didn't know that so many people had these problems, but the phone is constantly ringing."

Wharton's basketball career ended eight years ago after spending time overseas and in the minor leagues.

"I played in Italy and Hungary for a while. The basketball is great over there. I did pretty well, but then I got injured."

After a torn ACL, Wharton spent some time in the USBL and the ABA and then decided he'd had enough. He won't say that he's burned out, but he hasn't played in months.

"I'm a bit chubbier than I used to be," he said with a laugh. "I just don't have the desire anymore. I haven't really even thought about playing for a while. I guess I play every few months in some pick up games, but that's about it."

Wharton returned to Knoxville a few weeks ago when UT's All-Century team was named. He was disappointed that none of the players from his era were honored, but had a great time getting to meet some of the players.

"It was neat to talk with Alan Houston" said Wharton. "I really enjoyed talking with a number of former players who wore the orange. I actually met Coach (Bruce) Pearl for the first time.

"We had some good times at Tennessee. My favorite moment was beating Kentucky in Lexington back in 1999. That was the game that C.J. Black threw the forearm and I hit the game winner. After the game I was interviewed by Dick Vitale. That was cool, but not as cool as being interviewed by John Ward. I'd been a starter since my freshman year and had never been interviewed by John Ward. When they told me that I was going to be on the radio with him, now that was neat."

During his playing time with the Vols, his teammates relied on him night in and night out. Now it's people all over America who call 1-888-980-4321 seeking help with addictions. At the other end of the line is a former Vol who is changing lives, one call at a time.

Mark Packer hosts the Locker Room, presented by Parkwest Medical Center, on Sunday at 10 p.m. on MyVLT2.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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