Tennessee men's basketball recruiting is going international this week.
Coach Bruce Pearl left Monday for Hamburg, Germany, where he'll attend the FIBA Under-17 World Championships.
UT assistant coaches Steve Forbes and Tony Jones will remain in the United States to travel at other AAU tournaments for the start of the summer evaluation period.
"This is something that could prove to be very productive,'' Pearl said. "I'll be meeting with general managers from some European clubs and some scouts as I try to build our relationships to help our current Vols overseas.
"And, obviously, I'll be there looking at prospects.''
The U.S. U17 team has a few players in Germany who have been on Tennessee's radar:
n Adonis Thomas is a 6-foot-6 wing from Melrose High School in Memphis in the Class of 2011. Ohio State, Florida, Memphis and Kentucky also are hot on the trail of Thomas.
n Tony Parker is a 6-7, 240-pound power forward from Miller Grove High in Lithonia, Ga., who graduates in 2012. In addition to UT, Connecticut is recruiting Parker hard.
n Johnny O'Bryant, a 6-9, 235-pound power forward from Eastside High in Cleveland, Miss., is another Class of 2011 player the Vols are recruiting. Ole Miss and Mississippi State are all over O'Bryant, as he is widely considered the best big man in the class.
The Vols have verbal commitments in the Class of 2011 from guards Kevin Ware (Conyers, Ga.) and Chris Jones (formerly of Memphis Melrose, now at Oak Ridge, N.C., Military Academy).
Ware is playing in the adidas Invitational in Indianapolis this week while Jones' prep team is playing in an AAU event in Charlotte, N.C.
Germany is the first of many July stops for Pearl, who will return stateside Friday and is scheduled to be in Ohio at the King City Classic in Cleveland.
"When I first got to Tennessee, we were chasing juniors and seniors,'' Pearl said. "Now, we're spending a lot more time looking at freshmen and sophomores.
"We're at the point where we can look down the road in recruiting.''
The Vols are expected to sign four in the Class of 2011; a post and a wing appear to be the need positions with the two guards already committed.
Hopson At LeBron: UT rising junior Scotty Hopson arrived in Akron, Ohio, on Monday for the LeBron James Skills Academy.
Hopson is one of 24 collegiate players who will participate through Thursday.
Later this month, Hopson will be with the U.S. Select team, which will practice and scrimmage against the U.S. National team.
On Aug. 5-9, Hopson and rising senior Brian Williams will take part in the adidas Nation camp.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 27
cwbytruckers writes:
I dont get it. We are going overseas to recruit american players. With the system that Pearl runs. Why not get some overseas players to come stateside. We need some pure shooters in this system. Not just high flying, cant hit a free throw or play defense. Not to mention any names. But its time to get some SHOOTERS!!!!!!!!!!1
oskie_score writes:
Tennessee has the guard and wing play but is in deire need of a 6'9" to 7'+ shot-blocking, rebounding extraordinaire w/ a soft but lethal 15' and in jump shot.
Good luck CBP!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Could not have said it better...
Ironcity writes:
Read the story again. Thats what Pearl is doing. It just so happens there are American players also playing in the tournament that we are interested in.
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
But isn't Patrick Ewing retired?
Chris4Vols22 writes:
Pathetic post.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
'rising' means 'will be soon', so a 'rising senior'
is a player who will be a senior this coming season.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
Exactly. Pearl is looking wherever he can. Plus, as he said, he's trying to establish working relationships with people who may be future employers of Vol players.
Like maybe all but a few schools, UT will probably never be an NBA pipeline. It MAY be a pipeline to Euro-ball.
Hell, 100k to play ball in Europe....I'd take it. Just imagine being a kid and having that opportunity to see a bit of the world.
nola_vol writes:
FTA: "I'll be meeting with general managers from some European clubs and some scouts as I try to build our relationships to help our current Vols overseas.
Pearl is demonstrating his care for players after they graduate--and doing so on a world stage. Recruits: take notice.
Ain't it great to have successful coaches you don't have to apologize for!
Chris4Vols22 writes:
But still, it's proper to use the word "rising" in between major academic schedules, like now in the middle of summer.
Sounds like some posters on here are mistaking GVX for an English composition technique forum.
eduardo writes:
auchtung baby!!!! pass the sauerkraut
VolunteerLifer writes:
Jawhol, baby.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Correction:
Jawohl, baby
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
wasn't sure if you were being sarcastic or just stupid.
whatever it takes, I guess.
slsmithsr#269458 writes:
Dude MAY BE saying..if you are going to Germany, sign some Germans.
But I say.. Pearl doesn't want players that shoot the jumper but won't bang. Yes he does need pure shooters, but he also needs players that won't back off from hardnosed cut throat basketball. Put both in the same body...then you've got something. Look at a certain Dallas Mav..a great NBA scorer, but....foul him good and hard, he'll be shooting from half court the rest of the game.
Basketball is a street game..lowdown & dirty...and gamers have to get messy sometimes.
osbymartin#581730 writes:
I think it is a great thing for recruiting..obviously he will be looking at some international players...still a strong recruiting tool if those American players see UT orange in Germany...
Ironcity writes:
Not you BOK your not one of the sheep, your a jack A@@!
golfballs03 writes:
Cam Tatum should get some of these opportunities too.
cwbytruckers writes:
Im not saying go away from the banging and the hardnosed play. But we need a AKA Lofton out there. Not some pansy boy that can shoot the raindrop three but cant hit a freethrow consistantly or drive to the basket without getting it stripped.
Colliervol writes:
And if anybody would be an expert on sheep, it would be you. BOK, the Damon Evans of the sheep world. Only you'd be riding with it in that beat up pickup of yours out back of the Waffle House.
Colliervol writes:
Still waiting on your proof for that Letter of Inquiry by the way. All that inside information you have must be a terrible burden. Why not let us in on it?
cooper65#432178 writes:
100K is chump change to these kids who think they are NBA prospects. They're looking for 10M, not 100K. 100K only looks good when they realize they won't make it in the NBA.
oskie_score writes:
Yeah, so is Alonso Mourning...jeez, CBP can't catch a break. What to do?? What to do?? I know...quick someone call Hakeem Olajuwon. :-)
murrayvol writes:
rising can also be used to describe a biscuit
alwaysVol writes:
got to the elite 8 for the first time ever in Tennessee history, why don't we let him coach and make the real decisions, I'm sure he will call you if he needs help. it not like he isn't looking for the next lofton.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Do they make lederhosen in Orange?
Colliervol writes:
What? Deleted or banned again? Simply amazing that one can't post comments that are coherent and germaine to the subject where they can stay involved in the discussion.
Waiting for BOK's next reincarnation.
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