The Scotty Hopson that Tennessee fans expected last summer has finally arrived.
"Last year I was new to this, and I was kind of timid,'' said Hopson, a rising sophomore who scored 29 of his 44 points in the second half of the News Sentinel's 106-101 win over ChoiceSpine in Wednesday night's Pilot Rocky Top League. "But I've gotten comfortable, and I'm trying to take my game to a new level.''
Hopson's dynamic first step is more decisive than ever.
And that jump shot of Hopson's that UT coach Bruce Pearl once said was so ridiculously high that it "dusted the roof?''
The arc has been reduced while the success rate has increased.
"You talk about improved? It's night and day with Scotty,'' said Rick Campbell, coach of ChoiceSpine and a former Lincoln Memorial University and AAU coach.
"He's got confidence with his 3-point shot, his defense is better and he's stronger around the bucket.''
Campbell, who has the most detailed gameplans of all the Rocky Top League coaches, had a plan for Hopson, too.
"We were using three guys on him, starting with Cam (Tatum),'' Campbell said. "Then we had Jordan Dixon, who is ultra-quick and a pest for a big guy, and Mike Smith (6-foot-5, ETSU) helped on him.''
Former UT player Dane Bradshaw concurred with Campbell on Hopson's overall improvement.
"One of the things he struggled with was being able to put the ball on the floor and not get knocked out of position,'' Bradshaw said. "But he's stronger with the dribble and stronger on the drive.
"The thing about Scotty, he's such a humble guy and he's so generous; he doesn't have that superstar demeanor.''
But Hopson is beginning to show the superstar game that led Websites to project him as a first-round pick in this year's NBA Draft at this time last year.
"Nah, I'm not even thinking about that,'' Hopson said, asked if this could be his last season with the Vols. "I just want to set a tone in this league and carry it into the season.
"My team reached the Pilot championship last year and we didn't win it, so I want to win it this year.''
Hopson, who was a McDonald's All-American and Mr, Kentucky Basketball out of Hopkinsville, is averaging 46.5 points through two Rocky Top League games this season, putting him on pace to break the league's single-season scoring record.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 17
govegetarian writes:
What about Cam Tatum? He matched him up pretty evenly tonight, I thought.
vols14 writes:
Sounds like good news!
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
As I've stated in a couple of other post, Scotty will be the most improved player in the SEC and may even be the MVP....looking for a run deep in the big dance this year.
TnScooby writes:
Outstanding kid and hopefully on track to be most improved player for UT this season. 46.5 ppg avg is incredible in any league...only 2 games but WOW..Go Get'em Scotty!!!!!
Bigger_Al writes:
The whole Illinois team couldn't score 46.5 points per game under Bruce Weber if you locked them in a gym by themselves for a holiday weekend.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
LMAO!
t2farmer#294426 writes:
I really don't think anyone will be suprised when Scotty leads the Vols this season. His growth and improvement will be a major contributer to the Vols going much deeper in the NCAA tourney.
SprucePine writes:
Mike,
Hopson wasn't Kentucky's Mr. Basketball. Right or wrong, that honor went to Darius Miller.
Chris4Vols22 writes:
To me, the biggest difference in his playing ability now is that he's actually trying. That was my biggest problem with him last season...every time he touched the ball, he would either pass it off ASAP or settle for a pressured 3. He's huge for a guard and if he can penetrate, he'll be unstoppable!
Which brings me to next point, HIT THE WEIGHT ROOM, MR. HOPSON! This guy is somewhere in the neighborhood of 6'6-6'8 and he's not even 200 lbs.!
In my opinion, I want to see him develop his lane drive and overall strength, and I'm VERY optimistic about this coming season.
GO VOLS!
adamsck#591720 writes:
I just spit up a little. Hilarious.
kyvol98 writes:
Spruce,
You are 100% correct
cjensen writes:
There was a kid out of Southeast Louisanna that led the nation in scoring one year. He shot from outside A LOT. The arch on the ball was so high that it made Hopson's look like a line drice. You couldn't help but laugh...until you saw where it landed. Amazing.
That preceded the 3-point arch. Had the three point been in place, he likely would've added 10-12 points per game to his +40 ppg average. Good lesson; it not how pretty the shot is, its where it ends up that counts.
cjensen writes:
Actually, it was Bo Lamar, SW LA, not SE LA, and it ppg was 31.2...not 40, but he would have averaged 40 ppg if he'd had the 3-pointed. Beautiful, amazing shot. He gave long range a new defintion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Lamar
whichdoctor writes:
But you have to admit, that would bring back memories of Chris Lofton, maybe an honest mistake.
murrayvol writes:
Where did that come from? Just curious.
murrayvol writes:
Just about everyone in KY knows he would've been Mr. Basketball if he'd committed to the Cats.
Bigger_Al writes:
There are some Cheatin' Illini fans posing and posting on this site. They hate Pearl.
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