Lofton unsure of next move, but still will 'bleed orange'

Former Tennessee standout Chris Lofton sat on the Vols' team bench in Thompson-Boling Arena lacing up his sneakers for the start of coach Bruce Pearl basketball camp Monday.

Lofton, back from his first season of professional basketball in Turkey, wore his old UT practice shirt and orange Vols' basketball shorts as he prepared to greet campers.

"I'm wearing this because I bleed orange,'' Lofton said. "I wear my stuff around Maysville (Ky.), and they ask me the same thing.''

Pearl was clearly pleased by Lofton's choice in wardrobe.

"Every time you look at Chris and you see that orange, or the Power T, you think about all he's overcome over his entire career,'' Pearl said. "It's synonymous with the way our program has evolved."

The 6-foot-1 Lofton was named Kentucky's Mr. Basketball in 2004 after leading Mason County to the state title game his senior year, yet the home-state Wildcats neglected to offer him a scholarship.

At UT, Lofton overcame a battle with testicular cancer following his junior year, going through four weeks of radiation treatments after being diagnosed in March of 2007.

Pearl said Lofton's determination is evident in all facets of his life.

"Chris' work ethic is foremost, and then there's his love of Tennessee. I'm thrilled Chris Lofton represents us, because he's what we're all about.''

Lofton is back in Knoxville working out with UT players and coaches in preparation for a tryout with the Memphis Grizzlies, June 12-14.

The SEC's all-time 3-point shooter admitted his first time back inside Thompson-Boling Arena in nearly a year made him reflect.

"Coming in here just brought back so many memories,'' Lofton said. "It also made me think how time flies. It seems like yesterday that I was on campus for the first time.''

Lofton has moved back in with his old roommate, former player Jordan Howell, until he decides where his next basketball move will be made.

Lofton said his preliminary plan is to play a couple of games in the Pilot Rocky Top League at Bearden High School, which starts in two weeks, prior to playing in the NBA Summer League.

"I honestly have no clue where I'll end up,'' Lofton said. "I won't go back to Turkey unless I'm on one of the top two teams.''

Lofton's team, seeded seventh of the eight teams to qualify, was eliminated in the first round of playoffs.

Lofton scored only 15 points in the decisive third game of the series as a result of the extra attention he garnered after his league-record 61 points April 25.

"They started playing a lot of box-and-one,'' Lofton said, referring to a defense that utilizes a 2-2 zone concept with one defender focusing solely on a team's top scorer. "Usually you see that in the middle of games, but these teams were doing that against me right from the start.''

Lofton finished third in the league with 20.1 points per game average.

Lofton said he spent most of his free time in Turkey with his fellow American teammates Eddie Basden (Charlotte) and Bo McCalebb (New Orleans).

"The city we were in (Mersin) was not big, but they had a mall with a cinema, or we'd play video games,'' Lofton said. "I'd read the Internet a lot to keep up with Tennessee.''

Lofton said he was a regular reader of GoVolsXtra.com, but never left a comment.

"I'd read them, but no, I never left one,'' he said. "Overseas, you just have so much time on your hands, you think about a lot of 'what-ifs.' ''

Lofton said he often went over and over his game performances in the Turkish Pro League.

"You only play one game a week, so there's a lot of time to think about it,'' he said.

Lofton's typical week consisted of team lifting and team practice on Mondays and Wednesdays, single practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays, games on Saturdays and an off-day Sunday.

The biggest difference in play was the physicality.

"They really don't call a lot of fouls,'' he said. "They'll throw elbows into your hands when your shoot, or body up on you. They can get away with a lot.''

Lofton said he's anxious to play with the new UT players, particularly fellow Kentucky product Scotty Hopson.

"I've never seen him play, but I've heard he's good,'' Lofton said. "If he or any of them want to ask me anything, I'll be more than happy to give my opinions.''

In the meantime, Lofton will be in the gym, wearing his Tennessee gear and working on his shot.

Some things never change.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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