Strange: Just like father, White Jr. scores

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Tennessee center Brian Williams (33) knocks the ball loose from College of Charleston guard Tony White Jr. (32) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Knoxville on Friday., Nov. 27, 2009.

At long last, Tony White played a college basketball game in Thompson-Boling Arena on Friday night.

The catch was the "White Jr." on the back of his jersey.

And the other catch: there was no "Tennessee" on the front of his jersey.

Tony White Sr. was just Tony White back in 1983 when he signed with Tennessee out of Charlotte, N.C. Like all the recruits in that era he was promised that the Vols were leaving Stokely Athletics Center for a new palace down by the river.

It came to pass, but one year too late for Tony White.

A generation later, White - designated White Sr. for this night - sat in the front row behind the College of Charleston bench and watched his son, the one with White Jr. on the back of his jersey, run up and down the court.

"It was a great feeling,'' pop said. "I wish it was in orange, though.''

White Jr. played at Bearden High School, where younger brother Ronrico is a junior. Mom, Rhonda, is a Knoxville native and she was there, too, behind the Charleston bench.

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl scheduled the game to give White Jr. a chance to play in his hometown before a bigger audience than the Rocky Top Summer League.

"I was excited about it,'' White Jr. said. "My mom joked that I might get booed.''

Of course, he didn't. He got a warm round of applause when he was introduced and again when coach Bobby Cremins pulled him in the final seconds after scoring 12 points and dishing six assists.

"But the main thing I wanted to do,'' White Jr. said, "was come in and get a win.''

That didn't happen. The Vols prevailed 86-69, shaking off a case of the blahs in the final seven minutes to break open a tight game.

As a point guard, junior's game is different from his old man's.

"His quickness is like mine,'' White Sr. said, "but he doesn't really look to score as much as I did.

"I looked to put the ball in the basket.''

Did he ever. White Sr., was dubbed "The Wiz" for his scoring magic. He left UT with 2,219 points.

That still stands third on Tennessee's career chart behind Allan Houston and Ernie Grunfeld and sixth in SEC annals.

He led the SEC in scoring as a junior and senior and was twice first-team All-SEC.

On a February night in 1987, his senior year, he poured in a UT-record 51 points against Auburn, a mark no one has seriously challenged in the 22 years since.

"I have the 51-point game on tape and I've watched it over and over,'' White Jr. said.

"I know I'm a point guard but I still like to score. I'd break that tape down to see how he scored.''

After one year bouncing around the NBA, White Sr. went overseas and enjoyed a long and productive career.

When he retired, it was back to Knoxville. He works security in Oak Ridge.

A slightly built 6-foot-2, White was lightly recruited and was a late signee for Don DeVoe.

White Jr. was even more slightly built and a few inches shorter.

UT suggested he might try a year at a prep school to see if he developed physically.

"I was a young senior,'' White Jr. said. "I needed to get stronger.

"If I had (gone to prep school) I might be in a different uniform.''

There's nothing wrong with the uniform he's in, though.

Cremins, a big name in the coaching business, had just gotten the College of Charleston job in 2006 and spotted White Jr. in a summer AAU event.

"I liked what he was telling me from the start,'' White Jr. said. "He had developed a lot of good point guards. I guess you could say that was all she wrote.''

Forget prep school. White averaged 22 minutes as a freshman and has started ever since. He has scored more than 1,100 points and been on two 20-win teams.

"I think,'' said Pearl, "Tony picked a great school, a great coach, a great level.

"And he's having a great career.''

Just like his old man did a generation earlier.

Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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