Favorite or Most Exciting player you have seen play?

#1
tenmanjonez

tenmanjonez

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#1
I was just watching some Youtube vids, and I saw some Lofton vids, and it got me thinking, who was the most exciting or most fun player to watch you've ever seen don the orange for the baller vols?

As on and off as he was, I would have to still say J.P. Prince... I'm not sure what it was about him, but whenever he touched the ball on the fastbreak, I KNEW we were going to score, and probably an a momentum swinging dunk. He also ran the fullsourt press defense better than almost anyone I've seen because of those long arms he had, it was perfect... Anyway, I know some of you out there don't really like him because he was so inconsistent, but the man was a thrill to watch :rock:
 
#3
#3
One of the very few benefits of being an old SOB is that I saw Bernard King play for the Vols when I was a kid. There has never been an even remotely close second.
 
#4
#4
I have only been keeping up with UT basketball for about 5 years now... so my most exciting player to watch has to be Lofton. Loved his seemingly infinite range from beyond the arc. He was also an elite player when it came to clutch shots... Will never forget his three he hit in one of the early NCAA tourney games, maybe Portland?, where he was falling out of bounds when he hit an insane three for the win... as time expired!

I miss Lofton :(
 
#6
#6
I agree with JP. Especially during the tourney last year he carried our team. But the most exciting team was 05 because it was such a huge surprise/tournaround. Pearls first two years were amazing.
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#8
#8
Dale Ellis was my favorite. Hit 65% one year despite being regularly triple-teamed.

Next is Bernard King. Then Lofton.


[I am assuming this is Vols only...]
 
#11
#11
I didn't see or follow the vols prior to arriving on campus in '89, but for me it's Lofton. That kid made me get out of my chair more than any other player.
 
#12
#12
Vercingetorix said:
One of the very few benefits of being an old SOB is that I saw Bernard King play for the Vols when I was a kid. There has never been an even remotely close second.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. BK had the quickest leaping ability I have ever seen. He was up at the rim when the defender was just starting his jump. You're not as old as you think, I got to see the Ernie and Bernie show in person several games during the 3 years they played together in my 20's. Best duo we ever had.
 
#14
#14
Chris Jackson without question. I was there for the Jackson-Houston duel in TBA during the 89-90 season. The most spectacular performance I've ever witnessed from a college player (also consider that Shaq and Stanley Roberts played in that game).
 
#15
#15
Growing up in Knoxville in the 90s, I was able to see Houston play a handful of times and he never did disappoint. From all the Vols I've seen play, he was my favorite with Lofton a close second. Retiring the no. 20 should have been done a few years ago, but better late than never I guess.
 
#16
#16
PACKERVOL said:
I agree 100%. BK had the quickest leaping ability I have ever seen. He was up at the rim when the defender was just starting his jump. You're not as old as you think, I got to see the Ernie and Bernie show in person several games during the 3 years they played together in my 20's. Best duo we ever had.
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King was so good that you could have paired him with Doug Roth and it would still be best duo we ever had.
 
#17
#17
EZE said:
Chris Jackson without question. I was there for the Jackson-Houston duel in TBA during the 89-90 season. The most spectacular performance I've ever witnessed from a college player (also consider that Shaq and Stanley Roberts played in that game).
Click to expand...

I didn't read the OP closely enough. obviously, Christ Jackson played for LSU. As for Vols, I would have to say Houston and then Lofton for a close second.
 
#19
#19
papatomany said:
Dale Ellis was my favorite. Hit 65% one year despite being regularly triple-teamed.

Next is Bernard King. Then Lofton.


[I am assuming this is Vols only...]
Click to expand...

I would rate Dale and Bernard as co-no 1s. I saw Dale play almost every game as a senior. We went all the home games and several road games. It was unbelievable how often he really was triple teamed.
 
#21
#21
I wasnt old enough to watch Ernie and Bernie but to me it was Lofton and then Tony White
 
#22
#22
I was there the last time we beat UK at Rupp. Lofton just went off from downtown. That was such a great feeling...dominating UK at their place.
 
#23
#23
shortgameVol said:
I would rate Dale and Bernard as co-no 1s. I saw Dale play almost every game as a senior. We went all the home games and several road games. It was unbelievable how often he really was triple teamed.
Click to expand...

He had Michael Brooks (he of limitless range) to kick it out to if necessary, and Tyrone Beaman who was a great point guard, but that was it. Amazing how he could get his normal shot off no matter who was around.
Dale was an excellent defender as well, and I remember him fronting Ralph Sampson; he knocked away several lob attempts despite giving up nearly a foot to him.

Bernie had Ernie and Mike Jackson (who could've averaged 20 for any other team) and Johnny Darden (imo our best ever point guard). Oh, and Reggie Johnson, who DID average 20 after those guys were gone. Bernie was completely unstoppable, but you really couldn't triple team him. He also was probably the best rebounder we've ever had -- absolutely tenacious.

The OP said favorite/most exciting. The way I remember it right now was: you knew it had to go to Dale, the defense knew it had to go to Dale, it went to Dale and he scored anyway. That was exciting.

But tomorrow I might say Bernie.
 
#24
#24
papatomany said:
He had Michael Brooks (he of limitless range) to kick it out to if necessary, and Tyrone Beaman who was a great point guard, but that was it. Amazing how he could get his normal shot off no matter who was around.
Dale was an excellent defender as well, and I remember him fronting Ralph Sampson; he knocked away several lob attempts despite giving up nearly a foot to him.

Bernie had Ernie and Mike Jackson (who could've averaged 20 for any other team) and Johnny Darden (imo our best ever point guard). Oh, and Reggie Johnson, who DID average 20 after those guys were gone. Bernie was completely unstoppable, but you really couldn't triple team him. He also was probably the best rebounder we've ever had -- absolutely tenacious.

The OP said favorite/most exciting. The way I remember it right now was: you knew it had to go to Dale, the defense knew it had to go to Dale, it went to Dale and he scored anyway. That was exciting.

But tomorrow I might say Bernie.
Click to expand...

I agree.

In Ellis' sophmore year, Ed Littleton played point guard and Gary Carter played shooting guard(back in those days it was called right wing). Both Brooks and Beaman were freshman that season and came off the bench. Howard Wood played the other post and Steve Ray rounded out the starting lineup at left wing.

I remember a game AT Alabama( they were hot program back then) where Ellis had about six or seven tip-ins. At the end of regulation, Gary Carter threw a long pass from side backcourt to Howard Wood on the baseline and he swished the jumper to send it into overtime. I remember during the OT, the freshman Brooks made several key free throws to propel us to the win.

In the seventies and early eighties, UT had better "basketball" players than any of Pearl's teams. The basketball IQ of their players back then was exponentially higher than those playing today...IMHO
 
#25
#25
Chris Lofton was an unbelievable player. If he hadn't been fighting cancer his senior year he would be in the NBA.
 
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