Everyone’s “sources” are saying Tyler Smith will stay
18 April 2008 — rbkFrom Rob Lewis to Jimmy Hyams to random internet forum posters, everyone lately seems to have a source or two when it comes to basketball breaking news. For reliability, most people should be ignored, while media types like Hyams and especially Lewis should be given your ear. Regardless, all sources seem to be saying that Tyler’s NBA draft grade has him outside the first round which, according to Tyler’s recent comments, means that he will not be entering the draft and certainly not hiring an agent.
I’ll wait until we hear it from Tyler’s mouth, but I like the convergence of sources we’re getting. I’ve been figuring we’d get him back, but it will be nice to know for sure. Tyler is a great kid and a hell of a player, and he would be a major difference-maker for the 2009 Vols.
18 April 2008 at 3:11 pm
I hope he stays,NBADraft.com has him around 18th pick…Thats a Middle round pick..right? I think we’ll be OK either way but with him ….wow!! Pay Bruce Pearl, Lets lock him down..just give him the checkbook, look at all he does off the court in Tennessee. Lets focus on Him in this off-season
18 April 2008 at 3:12 pm
Correction…NBADRAFT.NET
18 April 2008 at 4:40 pm
I had seen that, but nbadraft.net is just an educated guess, really. It’s like Lunardi’s Bracketology. There are other sites that do mock drafts and that site seemed to have Tyler ranked the highest of any. Some had him lower in the 1st and some high in the 2nd. None of them really know what the NBA scouts think.
18 April 2008 at 6:04 pm
Two random replies: First, thanks for your kenpom-based analysis on the NCAA brackets. They helped me win the pool at work - for charity, of course - and have two brackets in the top 10 at Rocky Top Talk. And, yes I will talk about that until next year’s tourney - maybe longer.
Second, any word on whether Lofton makes it as a drafted NBA player or is he defintiely Europe-bound?
18 April 2008 at 6:09 pm
I haven’t heard any word, but my uneducated guess is he goes undrafted but gets on a roster as a free agent. Then it will be up to him to perform well enough to actually make a team for next season. My heart says he makes it . . . my head says he is bound for Europe, where I think he’d be highly successful.