ForumsOn Friday night, Tennessee signee Trae Golden wasn’t afraid to let a group of Louisville and Kentucky fans know where he is attending college.
While most other players warmed up for the Night of Future Stars event in their provided game attire, Golden came out sporting a Tennessee shirt.
“I don’t care where I’m at,” Golden said. “I represent Tennessee.”
And represent he did.
In Saturday night’s Derby Classic, the 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Powder Springs, GA scored 21 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists, had one block and a steal in just 22 minutes of action.
It didn’t come easy, though, especially early in the game.
Golden was held scoreless in the first half, and as the fourth quarter began, he had managed just seven points.
But in the final quarter, the shots that hadn’t been falling, finally started to drop.
“I had to get used to the goals,” Golden noted after the game. “We didn’t really get time to really warm up and I came out kind of cold. But then I got in the flow of the game and things just started working for me.”
“I just had to get in a rhythm,” Golden continued. “That’s the rhythm you get when you warming up but we really didn’t get a chance.”
With 10:37 remaining, Golden found that rhythm, knocking down a 3-pointer from the corner. It was his first made basket from beyond the arc and it seemed to inspire confidence.
Just 45 seconds later, teammate and McDonald’s All-American Ray McCallum found Golden again for another 3-point basket.
Then, after grabbing a loose ball and laying it in over a pesky defender, Golden headed to the bench for a brief rest.
When he returned to the game, Golden immediately went back to work. This time, the Vol signee drained a bomb from the top of the key and was fouled. He made the free toss and completed the rare four-point play.
Minutes later, the red-hot Golden, pump-faked from beyond the arc and glided down the lane past the defender and laid in his final basket of the night.
Golden’s 21-point effort was the third-highest total in the game.
When asked what Tennessee fans should expect from him next season in Knoxville, Golden answered, “Just to get everybody involved and come through in the clutch. That’s what I consider myself, a clutch player. I don’t shy away from the occasion, I rise up to it.”
Another Tennessee signee, Jordan McRae, was Golden’s teammate in the Derby Classic.
“It’s great playing with him for the simple fact that I’m playing with him next year and we have great chemistry,” Golden said. “You know, he’s a great friend, so it’s just a great thing seeing him out there. His shot wasn’t really falling but he had a good game.”
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