Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson: Will They Stay or Will They Go?

by Joel Hollingsworth on May 3, 2011 7:18 AM EDT in Rocky Top Talking Points

TENNESSEE BASKETBALL

Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson have until Sunday to decide whether they'll return to Tennessee or commit to the NBA Draft. An unnamed "veteran NBA scout" gave Mike Griffith the low down on each of them last week. The guy thinks Harris will go in the "middle of the first round" due to his youth and his upside. Regarding Hopson, the guy essentially says that teams are scared of him and concludes that "his prospects are no chance to be picked in the first round, and maybe not even get drafted." Hopson's not making the decision all by himself, though. He's leaning on a small circle of people he trusts, most notably some guy named Larry Marshall. Tennessee basketball's immediate future will become more clear next Monday.

Mike Strange has a sort of "where are they now" list of coaches hit with lengthy show-cause penalties. Some go to the NBA, some take administrative positions, and some, like Clem Haskins, literally put themselves out to pasture.

TENNESSEE FOOTBALL

Scout compiles the numbers and concludes that the Tennessee football program hasn't been this devoid of talent for nearly half a century. Having only two players selected in the NFL Draft, neither in the first round, hasn't happened since 1963. 2009 featured only one pick -- Robert Ayers -- but he went in the first round. Putting 2009 and 2011 together, well, there you go.

The good news? Saban again. Alabama went 7-6 in 2007 and had no players in the draft. They won the national championship in 2009 and had four players taken in the first round this year.

Etceteras. Ja'Wuan James, out with mono for most of the spring, made the most of his mental reps. The UT-KPD "let's get attacked by a K-9" thing was just another component of the VFL program, which is exhibiting symptoms of going viral. Bob Hodge: Talking turkey with Johnny Majors " GoVolsXtra (That's a hunting story. Just thought I'd clarify.) The Vol Historian has a nice feature on Travis Stephens and his fantastic game against the Gators 10 years ago. Mark Richt getting feisty is not a good sign for Vol fans.

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Comments

Chad Ford and his discussions with a few GM's

indicate that Tobias is close to being a lottery pick

by golfballs03 on May 3, 2011 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

Seems more and more clear every day

that the smart move is for Tobias to go and Scotty to stay. I hope Scotty’s team is smart enough to realize that, which they were last year.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on May 3, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

I agree

but I think most feel like if one were to come back it would be Tobias. But is it possible that Cuonzo could be a good change for Hopson? I think it would be.

by golfballs03 on May 3, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

He could teach him to play better defense

and he’d have one more chance to chase the inconsistency demons away

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on May 3, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh my goodness....

If Tobias is a lottery pick, wouldn’t that be “the greatest day in Tennessee basketball history”?

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on May 3, 2011 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

Only 20% of the greatest day.

Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.

by Chris Pendley on May 3, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, you know....

we can only approach such greatness from a distance….

;-)

by sddbaker on May 3, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

If Tobias is a lottery pick, that's not a bad result for Tennessee

Obviously, Tobias coming back and being a lottery pick next year is a better result. The worst result is him staying in the draft and slipping into the second round.

by Incipient_Senescence on May 3, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions