Tennessee freshman Tobias Harris said he’ll declare for the NBA draft, and junior Scotty Hopson has indicated he likely will, too.
Neither player, however, has announced plans to sign with an agent, which means after working out for NBA teams and getting information from the NBA’s draft advisory committee, they could return and play for the Vols.
The players have until April 24 to file their paperwork to declare for the draft and must announce their decision to return by the NCAA deadline of May 7 to retain their eligibility.
“I’m definitely going to be testing the waters,’’ Harris said. “But we (Harris and Hopson) wouldn’t sign an agent because there’s a chance we could come back.’’
Hopson said at the end of the season he would “probably test the waters.’’
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 65
Cartersvillevol writes:
Can't blame Tobias. He's a first rounder.
VOLliven2it writes:
Can't say I blame you on this Tobias but man I wish you and Scotty both could somehow stay with the Vols even with all you went through last year and with some uncertainties yet to come. Best to you whatever happens. Thanks for the good play you have given the Tennessee Volunteers.
BleedsOrangeinMO writes:
I don't see how either of them could go to the NBA.
Hopson is consistently inconsistent. Both, Harris and Hopson, when guarded closely are taken out of the game. Look what happened several times in the last few games when Harris had a big first half and nothing after the break!!! The other team made the adjustment and shut him down.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say early first and Hopson mid second. Witch Doctor say represent us well.
Bones never lie.
BigVolFaninSC writes:
Told you it was bye-bye time for both!
Munsterlander writes:
Yeah, the rest of us were clueless - nobody else thought this was even a possibility.
mrvol2u writes:
Hope they both make it if they go. Both were going to do this anyway(regardless of CBP being coach or not).
Maybe we can nab a good coach and both will return for one more season. I really like the way T. Harris plays. He sorta reminds me of Dale Ellis.
Good luck and remember, once a Vol, always a Vol.
FWBVol writes:
With the right coach, and I honestly don't know who that might be, I think Hopson will be back because I believe he knows deep down that he needs one more year. With the right coach, I also believe that Harris could come back depending on what the NBA tells him. Even if Pearl had not been fired I doubt if Harris would be around more than another year.
born2ride writes:
Harris left because of Pearl's firing. We can thank Hamilton for losing our best player.
OrangePride writes:
No one is surprised by either decision. Based on Harris' post season play, he is almost a sure first rounder and I certainly wish him well. Scotty is a good player, but the scouts may question consistency and outside shooting. He might be a late second round choice...."might." He will need a couple of great workouts to be seen that high so there is some chance he might stay for his last year. If not, best wishes, you gave your all for Tennessee.
alvol writes:
Anyone can be shut down if you have no one else that's a threat to score. The pros normally have more that one or two that can play.
reg_mza#219136 writes:
No offense but Tobias isn't ready. His three point shooting is very inconsistent and that's not even a three pointer at the pro level. He can handle the ball well with both hands but he doesn't have the first step to be a good 3 (SF) and is too small to be a 4 (PF). He's not quick enough or has the desire to play staunch defense to be a 2 (SG) so just where does he think he'll project at the next level with any success? I'd say come back and work on your overall game because there is soooooooooooo much more to work on with his game.
As far as Scotty, I'm not sure those handles will ever get any better but physically he's ready in all aspects. Mentally, emotionally? Now that's a different story. I wish them well either way though.
OrangePride writes:
No born2ride, I don't buy it. You can thank Bruce Pearl for all of this. As much as I loved that guy, he really mishandled so much that he got himself fired. The unreported "bump violation," the unreported extra tickets fiasco, and being less than truthful about Williams were the straws that broke the camels back. Besides, from everything I hear, this was a decision by Cheeks not Hamilton. Hamilton made more than his own share of mistakes thru all this, but he isn't the reason Coach Pearl is no longer here.
seymorehoops writes:
nba draft is all about potential anymore. Harris will go mid-late 1st round on that alone.
DMyles writes:
They will both be back, book it. Nobody will be making money in the NBA next year because of the lockout. Only way this changes is if a team falls in love with Harris and promises to make him a high pick, but it won't happen.
1vavolfan writes:
Most of the experts have Harris between #22-#25 which is pretty risky for him as only 1st rounders are guaranteed money. Also a pretty good chance of an NBA lockout next year and it would suck to have a year of doing nothing. Hopson is projected in the mid 2nd round and the way he finished the season I would doubt he goes then. Hamilton would really have to hire a schmuck of a coach to get Hopson to leave but that is possible. Worst case would be to get an unproven like Rick Byrd of Belmont, MArshall of Wichita, or Martin at Missouri State. That would shake up the roster and not excite the fan base. Jimmy Dykes said beg Bobby Knight or Larry Brown to coach 1-2 years because of all of the turmoil and then hand it over to a high profile coach, sounds like the best plan to me.
johnnyvol writes:
Both have NBA talent,but both will be sitting da bench for a few,cause neither of the two are ready to start on an NBA team,sure enough in time,but why ride the pine til then.Play ball for one more year at UT and get to play some ball or get paid and ride the pine.Why would you do that?The money will be there just the same no matter who the coach is!
kdaff51 writes:
Pulls a "0 fer" in the second half against Michigan and he is going to test the waters after saying "they quit". Bet he finds the waters very cold.....
bigsteve92 writes:
well we had a higher chance of them coming back till Pearl got fired. the way they went bout it left a bad taste in both their mouths so they are getting out. just like a recruit ask out of his letter already
seymorehoops writes:
doubtful since Pearl was going to be suspended for the next 2 years. He brought it all on himself
not_guilty writes:
Huh? A lockout in the NBA?
KC_Vol writes:
Hopson is at worst an early second rounder...not because of his incredible basketball skill but because of his unbelievable athletic ability.
give_him_6 writes:
Good luck guys. I wish you would have stayed Tobias, you have mad game. But a chance at the NBA is too good to pass up. And with the stupidity coming form the ADs office, I don't blame you guys. If you can't trust what the AD is saying, you may as well get yours. GBO!!
Stokes44yrs writes:
Ditto
kevin151 writes:
You don't have to worry about Scotty Disappear Hopson going to the NBA. The guy isn't that good. You have to worry about Harris on the other hand....
JohnnyD writes:
Tobias you are class act! Good luck in the NBA. I am sorry you got caught up in this phooey with Jimmy Cheek! I will alway be a fan of yours!
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor guess 7-17 as some of the REAL sites have. Witch Doctor have to admit not much of an NBA fan.
Bones NEVER lie.
W_D never bet with interlopers as they never pay they just change their usernames)
lomas98 writes:
A lot of people now wanting Scotty to stay. correct me if I'm wrong, but were most people saying they couldn't wait for him to leave after the end of the season. Can't have it both ways. Why would he come back to just have unreal expectations put on him and then when he doesn't live up to those, the fans trash him. I would leave too. We will find out just how talented these guys really are when the NBA scouts get a look at them. For the ones saying Scotty will never play in the NBA, I think you will be surprised what the scouts have to say. I think his game may be better fit for the pros considering his athletic ability and one on one game. And just because someone goes to the NBA doesn't mean he will play 40 minutes a game. I think both of these guys are role players who could give certain teams a lift off the bench and play 10-15 mins.
richvol writes:
Excellent analysis...they both need strength to finish at the goal. Their hands,and therefor their handles are weak. The strength coach for BB is disappointing to me as the entire team doesn't show any improvement year to year.
tennrich1 writes:
I would agree with this assessment..TH is a betweener at this point....he's not very athletic and would have to rely on his basketball IQ which is very high....one more year would probably help him more than anyone else at this point however I do see why you would test the waters...Scotty??? Well you got to take the plunge sometime...not sure one more would help...but I wish nothing but the best for both of them...agreed WD...they will represent us well....
bluecat55 writes:
what NBA lockout?
Colliervol writes:
The NBA has the same situation coming up with their collective bargaining agreement as the NFL is going through right now. But most experts say the NBA negotiation will be worse than what is going on in the NFL and the chances of an NBA lockout are far greater.
BigVolFaninSC writes:
I am hoping the same thing about them staying, but realistically I think they'll leave! I don't think either one of them is ready for the NBA, though! Harris has a well-rounded game, but he's just not experienced enough! He turns the ball over too much and misses/gets blocked too many lay-ups! Scotty has improved each year, but I would say he's still short of his McDonald's All-American expectations! I'd like to see both grow another year before going for the $!
Colliervol writes:
I'm not going to get too wound up about Tobias leaving because I figured he was a one-and-done when we signed him. Probably isn't quite ready but, with his work ethic and raw talent, I believe he can be a good NBA player.
Scotty also has always had NBA potential (and I stress that word) but it is difficult to get him interested in playing hard more than two games in a row in a 32 game schedule. How in the world could you keep him interested for 82 games?
Madkels writes:
Huh? Hopson will be playing in Europe and Tobias will be in the NBA. Tobias has much more upside potential than Scotty. Tobias has a higher BB IQ and attitude. Scotty doesn't have a pull up J which is mandatory if he want to make it. He would rather drive the lane and either turn it over or get charged with a charge.
rockytopnation16 writes:
Scotty Hopson is no where close to being ready for the NBA. Tobias maybe a little.
VOL-4-LIFE writes:
Not going to lose hope, that we get a good coach and he is able to talk tobias and hopson into one more year, Harris is good but not ready for the NBA yet, and Hopson deffinetly is not ready.
Juzkruzin writes:
His Dad siad if they fired CP Tobias would not be back at UT next year. Look at how many people said Rondo from (KY) wouldn't make it at the pro level, after he hit for 54 points (I believe) against UT a few years back. The Celtics took a chance with him and now he is one of the top point guards in the NBA. Very few college players are drafted with the ideal of them starting their first year, it looking down the road a couple years. Both of these guys can play in the NBA, because of their size, the way they can handle the ball and make their own plays. Remember the NBA has a double teaming rule, so that will give them a lot of one on one play, Harris and Hopson both would have been back one more year if "Hambone" hadn't gotten rid of one of the best coaches in the college ranks. It says Jimmy Cheek is going to oversee the hiring of a new coach. Wonder who is going to oversee him? Both Cheek and Hamilton should be flipping burgers on Kingston Pike. They are not qualified to work the strip!! They say they have two other coaches interested in the job, but Hamilton hasn't shown any interest in either. He should be looking at anyone that is interested in UT right now, wanting to work for him. I still say CP isn't coaching any where right now and they should be looking at him. He was fired so that cleaned his plate, now you can hire him back. The Best out there without a team and I am sure he would take the job and everyone would be HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SummittsCourt writes:
If they are not graded as a lottery pick, then they both need to come back. the NBA has figured out that outside of the first 10 players there usually isn't much left to help a team right away. What happens is, especially in the 2nd round, the players drafted don't get signed, if they do, they are sent to the NBDL for minimum money. Most end up overseas.
Tobias I can see as a lottery pick, Hopson will not get drafted at all this year.
10ECBob writes:
Both players are great representatives of our University, on and off the court. No one can blame them for testing the waters but hope they will take a good look at our new coach. Whatever their NBA status is now it will be much better after another season with the Vols.
Providing hamilton is gone!
Go Vols
BigOrangeVolSC writes:
I bet if we hired Isaiah Thomas we could keep them and get any other recruite we want
txvolsfan writes:
Tobias will comeback unless he is a lottery pick and he will NOT be a lottery pick. He is testing waters to see what he needs to work on. We can't forget that it looks like a work stoppage in NBA also. Facts are much better with post and not just pull it out of you ARSE!!!
TXVOLSFAN
BigOrangeVolSC writes:
If UT hires Isaiah Thomas we could build a power house in basketball
WestTennVol writes:
Glad you said it so I didn't have to, what an uninformed comment. Toby had big first halves b/c opposing teams were more afraid of Scotty, if Scotty was off you simply get on Harris, how is that hard to understand.
If Harris plays one more college season under a solid fundamental coach, i.e. Jamie Dixon, holy phooey he could be incredible.
Scotty just needs to have that fire everygame and he would be an absolute menace in the pros.
IMO both of these guys would make fine NBA players, Harris is already showing good decision making, great consistency (down the stretch, I mean cmon he WAS our team), his physical attributes don't even need mention (he's a prototype hybrid 3/4), his work ethic is better than the coaching staff's even, and hes only what, 19?? Scotty shows flashes that just make you tremble, I would gladly risk a second round pick on what he COULD do given the right coach and a 24/7 basketball life, his leaping skills are insane and he shot what 40% 3-point during conference play?
clvolfan writes:
BS! AND BS!
tnoutlaw2001#228008 writes:
I'm going to keep saying it and typing it. Bruce lied, no one else. Bruce is to blame, no one else.
Let's put the blame on who deserves it. Then we can move forward and rebuild.
tan007 writes:
I don't think giving a senior player 2 more tickets to senior day for his family should be any kind of penalty. They deserve that! If that was an infraction of the NCAA then they need to rewrite their rule book.
tnoutlaw2001#228008 writes:
Scotty couldn't carry Vincent Yarbrough jockstrap and where is he now?
Can't shoot the three, non consistent for 3 years, and talks way too much.
How have all these recruits worked out for Pearl? How many have came and been kicked out?
If we're going to get into all this garbage then lets roll up our sleeves and look at facts.
Most players recruited under Pearl were removed kick off the team or involved in altercations.
The kids that played their heart out and won most of the games except for last year were Peterson recruits.
The writing on the wall was starting to get pretty bright, and I loved Pearl, but it is what it is.
1pavolfan writes:
could'nt AGREE MORE!!!! I hope for their sake they both majored in foriegn language !!!
1pavolfan writes:
DITTO my last post.
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