Tennessee rising senior Tyler Smith said a year ago at this time he would be in “The League.’’
But neither Smith nor anyone else thought he would be starring in the Pilot Rocky Top League at Bearden High School this summer.
Smith fought through jet lag and after-effects of two months of workouts to score 22 points in leading Richardson Construction to a 114-108, opening-night win over HT Group.
“What’s the mind-set? The mind-set is to win every summer league game,’’ the sweat-soaked Smith said Monday night. “Tonight was fun, but I’m still recovering from flying coast to coast and those (NBA) workouts were hard.
“I’ll be better Wednesday. I’ll be a lot better.’’
Smith said he hasn’t had any second thoughts about his decision to turn down at least $500,000 in Europe or a chance to get selected in the NBA draft to come back to the Vols.
“Nah, I feel a lot better about everything, and coming back was a great decision,’’ the 6-foot-6 Smith said. “I was careful to weigh all my options and not just jump on anything.’’
Smith, the most popular figure among the autograph seekers, took note of what the UT fans were saying about him on talk radio and on the Internet message boards throughout his process.
“I know a lot of fans could have turned on me when I was considering going pro,’’ Smith said. “But they backed me 100 percent.’’
Smith reiterated that the support from his Tennessee teammates was pivotal.
“I saw they were working like a team needs to work to get to the Final Four,’’ he said, “and we have the potential to do that.’’
UT rising junior center Brian Williams said Smith’s return creates competition on and off the floor.
“It’s who plays the hardest, who works the hardest and gets it done in the classroom,’’ Williams said. “Tyler can take minutes from the 3, 4, or 5 (small forward, power forward and post) positions.
“Everyone has been talking about Kentucky, but with Tyler coming back, we’re the team to watch.’’
Some speculated that Smith’s return could take away shot opportunities from rising sophomore Scotty Hopson.
Hopson doesn’t see it that way.
“Tyler coming back can only help all of us,’’ Hopson said. “He’s a leader, and all of the guys have that confidence in Tyler after what we went through together last season.’’
Hopson said his approach to the game will be the same.
“I’ll have the same role I had last season, but I’ll be more aggressive because I know the game better,’’ Hopson said. “Playing with Tyler prepared me better for the SEC, and he makes all of us better.’’
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 17
chargervol writes:
I sure hope Smith steps up big for us in his senior season. The whole team needs to take a step forward. I think they will be better this year. I think they are still the team to beat in the East, and conference this year. It would be nice to win the conference tourney to spring into the NCAA with some confidence. GO VOLS!!!
grvol writes:
114-108? These games just kill the Vols D.
1manningfan writes:
And the new all time win team in the SEC is?
http://mrsec.com/story/a-new-team-on-...
Bwhaaaaaaaaaaaaa eat it Bama and SEC!!! Go Vols!!!
bigaldaddy writes:
Good decision young man.
kiffownsfla writes:
Getem ready cbp!
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
Looking for the best run we have ever had in NCAA's next year. People are going to be surprised by Scotty. A year has brought on a maturity that is going to be the key to this team. Also expecting Negedu to bring a lot to the table. This team should be very deep and hopefully we will see the press becoming a weapon again.
allvol32 writes:
Tyler Smith, you are a fine upstanding classy young man. I for one am glad that you're going to be back for your senior season and not only for your phenomenal basketball skills but for your heart and leadership and what you mean to us true Vol fans.
Hunter writes:
Everyone overvalues their own team's talent. Smith is not an NBA player yet, and I don't know that he ever will be. He doesn't break people down off the dribble, too small to play in the post, and has had lots of trouble shooting from the outside. NBA teams only "hustle" in the playoffs, and they don't draft "hard workers."
That being said, I think he can contribute to our team next year, but Tyler Smith CANNOT be the first option every time down the floor. Let the scorers like Hopson, Chism, etc. do their part and provide stability from the 4 spot and we'll be just fine.
whichdoctor writes:
"I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talkin' about practice. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We talkin' about practice. Not a game." --Iverson
At the end, Hopson trying to say it's not like that, I guess?
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Is it just me, or does it sound like KNS asked every player on the team that they could get to about losing minutes to Tyler? Glad they all had positive answers. I'm sure the KNS staff was hoping for some dirt. Why would you even plant that seed?
BTW, you guys that come on here and say that Tyler isn't NBA material kill me. Is that why he was on almost every mock draft before he pulled his name out? Try not to judge the guy on last year when he was fighting through triple teams in the paint every night. He will be much more effective next season as the floor opens up and I would expect to see him get drafted and make an NBA team when the season's over.
hueypilot writes:
thanks Tyler. Get your degree. Your father is and will be proud of you. I know he's watching.
volfan1985 writes:
who wants to see anyone not succeed? i hope that Tyler comes back and gets his stock up enough to make it to the NBA. I agree with I Bleed Orange!! GO vols!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Poster opinion on Tyler's NBA potential has been all over the lot. While it is true that he was mentioned in a lot of mock drafts, the thing is that he was not likely to be a 1st-round pick, and those are the only ones who get guaranteed contracts.
I am a Tyler fan who believes he can play in the NBA, but his size combined with his present skill set essentially leaves him without an obvious position on a generic NBA team. Even if he has a great year and the team goes far into the NCAAs, it still seems to me most likely that he will either be a 2d-round pick or a free agent. I think his versatility and competitiveness will give him an excellent chance to make a team. After that, anything can happen. I certainly wish him all the best, both next year and in his professional career, whatever shape that may take.
TommyJack writes:
Sounds like a good kid. Now if he would just lose that goofy head-band.....
richvol writes:
If these guys play hustle defense,crash the boards and pass the ball to oneanother in the paint,instead of trying to finish with with opposing players hanging all over them,they have a chance to be really good. If they do the same things as last year,since they have virtually the same players,then they won't be any better than last year.
I hope Pearl gets through to these guys because he never did last year.
CoachFulmer writes:
I agree with your prediction 100%. This is Tyler and Wayne's last year to get something done and make a lengthy run. I've said this in the past, if Brian Williams gets tougher and uses his size to his advantage, it's gonna be real hard to stop that train. Can't wait til basketball season.
GO VOLS!
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor been working on Zombies during daytime last couple of weeks. Witch Doctor here lurking during daytime though. Bones never lie
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