Galen Campbell

#1
iKrager

iKrager

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#1
Has anyone heard anything about Galen? He redshirted the 2011/2012 season, but was put on the practice team because we reduced our roster size from 15 to 13. Galen averaged 24 points/9 rebounds @ Fulton.

Why is he not looked into?

Last I read was:
Austin-East's Brandon Lopez and Fulton's Galen Campbell each had ample options as high school seniors. Division II schools offered slots on their basketball rosters. Junior colleges dangled scholarship offers.

Then there was Tennessee. New coach Cuonzo Martin needed walk-ons for his 2011-12 roster. He targeted Lopez and Campbell.

As lifelong friends, the two Knoxville natives encountered a dilemma.

To play or not to play? To suit up for the hometown Vols or to find a new home?

A judgement call was made. Campbell and Lopez choose to take the plunge into walk-on waters together. They added up the positives and Martin's invitation won. The hometown boys went to the hometown school.

"We've been playing together since we were 6 or 7 years old," Lopez said Wednesday. "It was a great opportunity."

This spring, though, Campbell and Lopez learned a miscalculation was made.

They assumed their walk-on slots on Martin's roster would always be available. That changed in late April following Campbell and Lopez's first season.

Amid budgetary cuts in the streamlining of Tennessee athletics, the department announced it will operate with fewer student personnel, including basketball walk-ons. Just like that, Martin's roster was restricted to 15 spots — 13 scholarship players and two walk-ons.

Five members of the 2011-12 Vols were walk-ons. Two remain. Once spliced as a package deal, Campbell and Lopez were untwined.

"We knew that a couple people were going to have to go," Lopez said."Everyone hoped it wasn't them."

Lopez and Rob Murphy were the lucky ones.

Soon after the roster restrictions were announced, Campbell sat inside Martin's office. It was the last conversation either one wanted to have. Remembering back to the meeting, Martin said, "That's not an easy thing to sit down and talk to a kid about."

"I was shocked that there were going to be cuts, but I didn't personally think it was going to be me," Campbell said. "Coach made his decision and I respect him to the fullest. It was business."

The role of a walk-on is unforgiving. All work. No limelight. All pain. No gain. Players who starred in high school are asked to work on the scout team.

At Fulton, Campbell averaged 24 points and 9 rebounds as a senior.

At Tennessee, he impersonated players like Vanderbilt's John Jenkins and Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as the Vols planned for upcoming matchups.

"Guys on the team gave us our respect last year," Campbell said. "We helped them. We went at them."

After announcing the roster cuts, Martin told Campbell to stick around the program in 2012-13 and rejoin as a walk-on the following season. If he chose to leave, though, Martin said he'd understand.

As for Lopez, his elation over snatching a coveted roster spot was quickly muffled.

"It was tough to accept," he said.

"That's like my brother, so he was probably more upset than me, " Campbell added. "I'm not really emotional or anything."

A scholarship to Iowa Western, a strong junior college with a track record for placing players in Division I programs, quickly made its way to Campbell.

In the end, the former walk-on made a walk-on-type decision. He chose the team over himself.

"I really look up to Coach Martin, and then there's the players — those are my brothers — we've bled and sweat together," Campbell said. "There's a bond there. I couldn't leave."

And Martin is looking forward to welcoming him back down the line.

"We'll be happy to have him back in the family full-time," he said.

So you won't see Galen Campbell on the UT bench in 2012-13. He'll be around, helping out where necessary, attending games in street clothes. He might be the first redshirt walk-on in Vols history. He's already eyeing 2013-14.

"Coach and I made an agreement," Campbell said. "I gave him my word, he gave me his word. That's where it is."

Summing up the walk-on journey of he and his friend, Lopez said if you're not selfless, you won't survive.

He concluded that Campbell has proved as much.

"You have to play your role in life," Lopez said, "whatever it is."
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#3
#3
bleedingTNorange said:
He will be a walk on next year, what're you getting at though? Him for PG next year?
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Not at all. Just why doesn't he get more PT if Brandon Lopez gets PT? I know it's because of our lack of PG, but I'd rather see Galen getting more playing time. And averaging 24 pt in HS is impressive, just don't see why he doesn't play a bigger role here.
 
#5
#5
Walk ons are walk ons for reasons. They aren't some hidden gem. They are guys that could easily play at the d2 or low mid major level but choose to go a bigger school.
 
#7
#7
iKrager said:
Not at all. Just why doesn't he get more PT if Brandon Lopez gets PT? I know it's because of our lack of PG, but I'd rather see Galen getting more playing time. And averaging 24 pt in HS is impressive, just don't see why he doesn't play a bigger role here.
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You just answered your own question. Lopez got PT because there was literally nobody else at the position. Campbell wasn't on the team last year so no matter what he wouldn't have played. As for this year, you wanna see Campbell get PT because Lopez got PT? So let's cut jordan McRae's minutes so a walk on can get PT???

As said below, Steven Pearl averaged about 30ppg in high school if not more, how'd that translate to the college game?
 
#8
#8
:rofl:
bleedingTNorange said:
You just answered your own question. Lopez got PT because there was literally nobody else at the position. Campbell wasn't on the team last year so no matter what he wouldn't have played. As for this year, you wanna see Campbell get PT because Lopez got PT? So let's cut jordan McRae's minutes so a walk on can get PT???

As said below, Steven Pearl averaged about 30ppg in high school if not more, how'd that translate to the college game?
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Steven Pearl averaged 21 points and 9 rebounds his senior year. Let's not over exaggerate.
 
#10
#10
I was Galen, I would have went with that Juco offer. They are usually a pretty good team and maybe play at a OVC level school or go play D2 at LMU. They have been ranked lately, get to play a lot and be on scholarship.
 
#12
#12
bleedingTNorange said:
You just answered your own question. Lopez got PT because there was literally nobody else at the position. Campbell wasn't on the team last year so no matter what he wouldn't have played. As for this year, you wanna see Campbell get PT because Lopez got PT? So let's cut jordan McRae's minutes so a walk on can get PT???

As said below, Steven Pearl averaged about 30ppg in high school if not more, how'd that translate to the college game?
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Steven pearl and McBee also lacked natural athleticism, Galen can actually play. I wouldn't be making a thread like this if I didn't strongly agree that Galen should get at least a couple minutes a game. No, I'm not talking more than 5 minutes a game. We'll see more of Galen his senior year.

Not that the Rocky Top League says much, but it does showcase talent. I think Jordan McRae broke the record a year or two later with like 50+.

Galen Campbell (Fulton) obliterated the Pilot Rocky Top High School Fall League scoring record draining 45 points and leading Team Naler to an 89-68 win over Blount County.
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whocaresgobobcats said:
Walk ons are walk ons for reasons. They aren't some hidden gem. They are guys that could easily play at the d2 or low mid major level but choose to go a bigger school.
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Dre Matheiu could've walked on at Tennessee, but chose JUCO instead. People didn't expect Dre Matheiu to be a big star his junior/senior year of high school, but once he hit some major PT he started blowing up. All I'm saying is that Galen has talent/potential that has yet to be tapped.
 
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#13
#13
If Galen was so good he would've been a walkon last year along with Lopez, however he wasn't even good enough for 1 of 2 walk on spots.

I'll be surprised if Galen ever sees very meaningful minutes at Tennessee.
 
#14
#14
Is this the guy we're discussing? Oh wait.....
 

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#15
#15
bleedingTNorange said:
If Galen was so good he would've been a walkon last year along with Lopez, however he wasn't even good enough for 1 of 2 walk on spots.

I'll be surprised if Galen ever sees very meaningful minutes at Tennessee.
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We'll see BTO, we'll see. :hi:
 
#16
#16
Those pilot stats are from the high school fall version of the league. The same kids that he played at the high school level, not the Tennessee players. And since Martin picked Lopez after both practiced a year with the team that means Lopez is better which explains enough to me on how good he will be
 
#17
#17
goodtobegoad said:
Those pilot stats are from the high school fall version of the league. The same kids that he played at the high school level, not the Tennessee players. And since Martin picked Lopez after both practiced a year with the team that means Lopez is better which explains enough to me on how good he will be
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Or it means he wanted to have an extra PG when Golden goes down.
 
#18
#18
iKrager said:
Or it means he wanted to have an extra PG when Golden goes down.
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Ok well seeing how we're more loaded at wing this year than last, how does it seem plausible that Campbell is gonna get minutes this year when he couldn't even make a walkon spot last year.
 
#19
#19
bleedingTNorange said:
Ok well seeing how we're more loaded at wing this year than last, how does it seem plausible that Campbell is gonna get minutes this year when he couldn't even make a walkon spot last year.
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I wasn't even making the statement at you :p and I was also talking about this year as to why Lopez probably got the spot over Campbell. I don't think Campbell will get any minutes this year.
 
#20
#20
Your whole argument was for him to get more pt. So I don't know where your going with this. Galen will not play nor should Lopez have played last year.
 
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