Scotty Hopson didn't come into the opening night of play in the Pilot Rocky Top League Tuesday looking for the spotlight.
But it found him anyway, just as it likely will this upcoming season with the Tennessee men's basketball team.
Hopson, a rising junior, finds himself in the same type of role with his PRTL team as he will with the Vols.
"I see Scotty leading his team to victories (in the PRTL),'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "That means scoring and making plays in all aspects of the game. On the ball, off the ball, shooting and driving.
"With our team, he's been taking ownership in our program and caring for his teammates.''
Incoming freshman Jordan McRae said Hopson has taken him under his wing since he arrived on the UT campus.
"Scotty has worked with me on certain moves and told me how things are going to be with practice and the coaches,'' McRae said. "Off the court I'm with him all the time. He's been like my big brother.''
Hopson's leadership role in high school and AAU basketball consisted of leading by example and scoring a lot of points.
"Scotty was our go-to guy,'' said John Primm, who played AAU ball with Hopson and led UNC-Asheville in scoring, assists and steals last season. "I can't wait to see him get into that role at Tennessee. Scotty has always expected a lot from himself; he just can't get down on himself.''
Hopson, who led the PRTL in scoring last season, led the News Sentinel with 31 points in a 118-110 victory over Ray's ESG.
Hopson hit back-to-back 3-pointers down the stretch, scored on Chris Lofton with a spin move and executed a baseline turnaround on former East Tennessee State star Courtney Pigram as the News Sentinel broke open a close game.
"I'm coming out in this league to have some fun and win some games,'' Hopson said. "I'll do whatever I can to motivate myself and my teammates.''
Former UT star Dane Bradshaw, a teammate of Hopson's on the News Sentinel's team, said he has seen Hopson grow into more of a leader each of the past two seasons.
"Scotty has always had the confidence, but coming in as a freshman and sophomore, it can be a situation where you don't want to overstep your bounds with the juniors and seniors,'' Bradshaw said. "The key to being a good leader is being consistent. You're not just a leader when you hit three 3s in a row. You have to be able to rally your teammates on your worst day.''
Pigram, whose polite disposition and scoring skills mirror Hopson's, said leaders evolve from practices.
"What you do in practices is what carries over to the games,'' said Pigram, who led his league in Spain in scoring last season. "Scotty is very talented. He just needs to know it all starts in practices. His teammates know what he can do, and they're watching his every move even though he may not know it.''
Lofton said the biggest difference he sees in Hopson from a year ago is in his physique.
"I've seen a difference in Scotty in the weight room,'' Lofton said. "You can see he's taking it all very serious.''
DeRoyal 115, Richardson 104: McRae scored 27 points, including a 360 dunk, to highlight DeRoyal's victory.
Seniors Brian Williams and Melvin Goins contributed 25 and 17 points in the win.
UT's Renaldo Woolridge led Richardson with 39 points while East Tennessee State's Micah Williams had 21 and Golden State Warriors guard C.J. Watson scored 17.
News Sentinel 118, Ray's ESG 110: Hopson was helped by former Bearden star Michael Blue's 27 points and John Primm added 19 to lead the News Sentinel.
Pigram scored 24 points for Ray's while Steven Pearl had 16, Tony White Jr. scored 15 and Trae Golden added 13. Lofton attempted 10 shots, finishing with 11 points for Ray's.
"I don't want to come out and just be a ball hog; there are other things to work on,'' Lofton said. "Dane (Bradshaw) was picking me up full court and face-guarding me. He told me he had to be the defensive stopper.''
Josh Bone was a late addition to Ray's roster, scoring seven points. Ray's was missing last year's PRTL MVP, Boo Jackson.
Wayne Chism was present but didn't play for the News Sentinel after catching an elbow above his eye during his NBA workout with New Jersey last week.
First Tennessee 112, Choice Spine 84: Bearden rising senior Ty Greene stole the show, scoring 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and hitting four of six of his 3-point shot attempts.
DeMario Curry had 20 for First Tennessee and Kenny Hall had 18.
Ricky Taylor of Chattanooga led Choice Spine with 15 and Cameron Tatum had 13. Tyler Smith did not play for Choice Spine but is expected out Thursday.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 22
chrisw2967 writes:
I just hope he learns how to dribble this summer and then he will be fine.
rocky_topper writes:
He will revert back to the same old Scottie once pearlball begins!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
What's your point? It has BEEN the Pilot Rocky Top League since its inception. Haslam is a major athletic department donor and a huge advertiser in all K'ville media. You make it sound like this is some kind of underhanded conspiracy.
skm writes:
You're a big fat rocky top jerk.
Go Soctty!
richvol writes:
Pigram is exactly right...what happens in practice is what comes out in games. If Scotty really wants to be considered the leader of this team by the players and fans then he must be the leader in practices. Scotty is going to have to decide if this is going to be another year of unfulfilled potential or a breakout year of success. It's up to him and his effort.
tmartin writes:
So what I gather from this article is that:
(1) Scotty has just been holding himself back because he was not an upperclassmen
(2) scotty has been consistent
(3) dane bradshaw can stop chris lofton??
righhhhhhhhhhhhht.
volgrog#210164 writes:
So by Pearlball you mean regularly winning the SEC East, beating KY and FL and getting farther than any other SEC team in the NCAA's?
orangecountyvols writes:
Witchie
You're right about the interlopers, it never ends but does become weary and boring .
You real fans know a lot more about this league than I. My only concern is by seeing the big scores........
is any defense played? Is it a "watch me dunk" or
"here's my 5th 3 pointer in a row?"
To put it more clearly, I hope the league just doesn't develop a few bad habits for some of the guys.
Since we don't have NCAA coaches for them, that's all that might give me a little concern. If in the final analysis it's good for everyone, then that's all that matters and it'll be worth it.
Strap writes:
Shouldn't we be getting some more information about Ty Greene? I don't find him on Tennessee's prospect list.
RoadTrip writes:
If Hopson doesn't add 10-15 lbs of muscle, as should Woolridge, it isn't going to matter much. Strong defenses push these two around and get them off their games. I believe the maturity part - another year under CBP should help Hopson (and others) step up more as leaders.
VolunteerLifer writes:
118 to 110
115 to 104
112 to 84
If you think it looks like these guys are playing defense, then maybe you'd be interested in a buying a bridge in Brooklyn that I own that I'll sell to you real cheap.
murrayvol writes:
Really?
sandiegovolunteer writes:
Most surprising thing in this article to me is Woolridge scoring 39 points!
Trifecta_Storm writes:
Very well said hiker, they are going to play somewhere with or without structure, this, at least has a little structure. Go to the outdoor courts on campus sometime and see which you think would be better!!! This league is great for them. Go Vols!!
midnite__VOL writes:
SWIPER BOY !!!!!!!!!!
VolunteerLifer writes:
I agree with you. I'm not opposed to them playing in this league nor am I opposed to them focusing on their offense, staying in shape, and having a little fun. I was just responding to someone who said he thought they WERE playing alot of defense. Obviously, they aren't.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Alright all I gotta say is this.......
You are going to be a JR.....
TIME TO PERFORM
KingsportsGoat (Inactive) writes:
^ QU**R
jclowers writes:
What I want to hear out of Scotty Hopson is that he has a picture of him missing 2 FREE THROWS against Michigan State that could have sent us to the Final Four and that he will make up for it. Here's hoping Hopson won't be defined by high expectations and low results. This team next year with Harris coming in and Hopson, Tatum, Goins and Williams should be dangerous in the SEC and NCAAs, but that's why they play the games. I think Hopson needs to be a consistent 16-18 point scorer next season for us to win big games.
cgl102770 writes:
Is the 2010-11 mens basketball schedule up yet? I can't find it anywhere.
echapin (staff) writes:
I emailed the ASID and was told that it would be released in mid-August. We'll put it up on GVX as soon as we get it.
Thanks!
Mule_Days_King writes:
And that's more times than you will "score" in your sad little existence.
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