The recent resurrection of the Tennessee basketball program under Bruce Pearl has been nothing short of incredible the last three years. I have followed Tennessee basketball for awhile – probably around a decade or so. I remember the losses to Chattanooga, Nebraska, the choke at Louisville, the year where we lost a bunch of games by not many points the countless home losses and blowouts. I know people that have been following longer, but I feel that my being a admitted fan even during the mediocre years has made the last three years that much better.

Being a part of them as a student for two has made it that much better – I still have NEVER seen Tennessee lose a game at Thompson-Boling Arena. I’ve never sat in the upper deck for a regular season game, I’ve been on the aisle that the team entered from twice – Memphis and LSU from 06-07. I have never had to walk back to my apartment/dorm lamenting a home loss. I hope that streak gets to 50 this year.

When I look back years from now when Tennessee is a perennial basketball contender for SEC titles, high NCAA seeds, and Final Fours, four guys will come to my mind the most, none of them Bruce Pearl players. First is C.J. Watson, who to me is the most underappreciated player in Tennessee basketball history. Next is Dane Bradshaw, a Memphis guy who was the epitome of the first three Bruce Pearl teams – 120% effort from guys who weren’t the most talented.

Thank you CJ and Dane too

C.J. and Dane stick out to me, but the last four years with JaJuan Smith and Chris Lofton are at another level. Tennessee just experienced an historic season, and the future couldn’t be much brighter. But this past year’s team was all about Chris and JaJuan, and we’re going to miss them. The way they played, and the way they carried themselves will always be something I as a fan will be forever grateful. They have brought Tennessee basketball back to relevance and have my utmost respect.

I’ll start with JaJuan, the guy who nobody wanted, who walked-on at Tennessee from a small high school in Cleveland TN. My first real memories of seeing JaJuan came on that December day in 2005, when driving back from a HS swim meet I turn on the radio and Tennessee is up something like 25-8 on top-5 Texas in Austin. JaJuan burst onto the scene with the crossover, side/back-step three that he made so many times throughout his career. At that time, JuJuan was all about the dagger 3-ball.

But JaJuan really made his mark beginning in 2006. Of course his breakaway 360 dunk on Memphis sticks out to me, but it wasn’t until Lofton hurt his ankle that JaJuan became a leader. In Chris’ absence, JaJuan was our offense. Though we lost some tough road games at Kentucky and Ole Miss, we would have been blown out if not for JaJuan.

As for this past season, JaJuan was sensational to watch, especially at homes games. His performances against MTSU, but most notably Arkansas were something else. When JaJuan was on, you knew Tennessee wasn’t going to lose. He wasn’t afraid to shoot, so when he was on, look out. It was so fun to watch. He hit some ridiculous rainbow bombs at Memphis that kept Tennessee somewhat in it while Memphis hit all those threes. And he absolutely went off on Florida this past year. Twice. Especially in Gainesville in the second half, leading Tennessee to that SEC championship that everyone wanted so badly…

His development has been remarkable. From walk-on to All-SEC player, and he has a chance to play himself onto an NBA team. Much like Lofton, he went from mostly a 3-point shooter to all-around player, but he was always one of Tennessee’s best on-ball defenders. You knew when JaJuan was on the other team’s top scoring guard that he was gonna give his all on the defensive end.

But JaJuan was more than that. There where times this past season where you were wondering what the hell he was thinking. Sometimes you felt he made a bad decision just so he and whoever he was trying to pass to could get on ESPN. It was occasionally frustrating, and there are many times and I won’t go into particulars, but his positive plays far FAR outweighed his bad decisions.

To me, he played like much his personality – laid-back, just having a blast playing basketball. Also, I will always credit him with starting the headband deal, since seemingly every Tennessee player (even the newcomers in the RTL) wear one (rival fans didn’t dub us “Headband U” for nothing). Listening to him after the South Carolina finale this past year, I could just tell how much he had enjoyed playing basketball at Tennessee and the season, but at yet you knew he wanted more. As if his legacy wasn’t already set in stone. He most likely won’t get his jersey retired like Chris will, but I’ll always remember #2 as JaJuan Smith.

Chris’ play against the unbeaten Gators back in Bruce’s first year was just amazing. You knew how special he was going to be with that game, hitting an impossible corner three to cap off a comeback. Then after a rather foolish shot, making a great steal and setting up the game-winner. His play in Rupp later than year was inspirational, shoving his awesomeness in the faces of those that ignored him. Once again, thanks Kentucky for giving us Lofton.

As much hoopla surrounding the Lofton-Kentucky relationship, I must say Lofton’s personal playground was Stegeman Coliseum in Athens. 14, 33, 14, and 22 points each in that arena that Tennessee fans have begun taking over that building when the Vols visit.

I still have no idea how he hit the winner against Winthrop in the 2006 Tournament. I’ve tried that shot many times since then, and it’s so hard I’ve hit it maybe 10 times…EVER. Down in Panama City on Spring Break watching that game, I of course ran outside in utter joy at him hitting that shot.

Lofton’s development from pure shooter to all-around scorer between his sophomore and junior year was phenomenal. He became an excellent driver and could beat people off the dribble. How can you stop a guy that can shoot so well AND drive? Memphis was the first to experience this “new” Lofton. This video catches all of the ownage, one of the most fulfilling nights of Tennessee basketball. Other than whipping Florida, that game might have been the best.

That’s only because I was in Memphis over Christmas break and missed the Texas game. I went to eat with friends at halftime and couldn’t watch the second half. I didn’t actually see the shot over now NBA ROY Kevin Durant, I just missed it (thanks TiVo). I still can’t believe how far out he hit that from. That might have been the most amazing shot of his amazing career.

Disaster struck against South Carolina that year, when Chris turned his ankle and bringing a total hush over TBA. Tennessee was a one-man show that year, and Lofton’s absence proved it with the tough road losses that followed. He returned against at home LSU, and I remember the excitement of his first three in that game.

Lofton then continued to carry Tennessee into the NCAA Tournament with wins over Kentucky and Florida at home, then a pair of SEC road wins – the Vols were 0-fer on the road until wins at Arkansas and Georgia to close. He took the Vols past LBSU and Virginia, into just the third Sweet 16 ever. What happened there I don’t talk about, other than maybe he should gotten the rock on that fateful last possession.

This past year’s team was all about him and JaJuan. But into December you had to wonder why Chris wasn’t himself from the year before. He shot was way off, and you couldn’t tell if it was just mental or something mechanical. I personally didn’t mind it much, as Tennessee was winning games without much contribution from Lofton. I just figured that Lofton was going to break out of it eventually and that would make Tennessee that much better and that much more of a contender.

He showed flashes against Kentucky and Georgia and exploded against Florida along with JaJuan (those two owned the Gators over their careers). Despite his inconsistency, he still had games in which he was the “Lofton of old.” And of course despite the play of Tyler Smith, was still clutch. The South Carolina SEC Tournament quarterfinal game proved that – play designed for him to win it, and he comes through.

This was the last point of Lofton’s Tennessee career

I hated seeing him end his career like he did, struggling in a blowout loss to another school that passed over him in high school. But at least I can say I saw the last time both he and JaJuan suited up for the Vols. Granted it was a tough, frustrating loss to take, but at least I got to express my thanks and admiration for the two in person (though forever away in the nosebleeds).

A few weeks after the season, I get a text asking me about this article on Chris. I get home from class and check ESPN and I see this. I was absolutely stunned. Chris Lofton had cancer, didn’t pick up a basketball for a month or so, didn’t tell ANYBODY, and still played this past year because he knew what a special team this was going to be and didn’t want to ruin that for his team. Not even the team – outside of Jordan Howell in late January – knew about this.

Chris Lofton beat cancer. Think about that. The article – kudos to Chris Low for excellent journalism – just makes you have so much respect and admiration for the guy. This act was the absolute most impressive display of unselfishness I might have ever seen. Just incredible. He’s cemented his legacy to me as a Tennessee hero for what he did.

I can’t say that I didn’t criticize Lofton during his struggles early in the year, but I have to think that the majority of Vol fans probably did, but they just didn’t know. Now we understand why. You can’t read that article, and not just be amazed at not only what Lofton did, but how he did it – unselfishly. That’s what Chris was though – quiet and humble.

Though Lofton doesn’t technically meet the requirements to have his #5 retired, I agree with Bruce Pearl that it would be a complete crime if Tennessee didn’t put his jersey in the rafters. I will do my part and buy a #5 jersey and put it up on my wall. What he meant and brought to this program will never be forgotten, and he deserves his place with guys like King, Grunfeld, Houston, and Ellis.

Both JaJuan and Chris are the guys that the foundation of the the bright, hopeful future of Tennessee basketball rest upon. I cannot say it enough – thank you Chris and Juanny.