CHARLOTTE, N.C.-As expected, Scotty Hopson and Tobias Harris did not reveal anything about the plans for their respective futures after Tennessee’s loss to Michigan in the NCAA basketball tournament Friday afternoon.
Whether the Volunteers’ top two scorers decide to enter the NBA draft is just another question for a program heading into an offseason of unknowns.
“I don’t know yet,” said the freshman Harris, who averaged 20.5 points in his last six games. “It’s definitely something that I’ve got to think about, but I don’t know right now.”
“Obviously right now,” Hopson said, “I’m looking forward to coming back next year. I haven’t made any final decision, but right now that’s what I’m going with.”
Both said the return of UT coach Bruce Pearl next season could be a factor in helping them make their decisions.
“Well, it’s definitely something that I’m going to have to consider and go from there and see how it plays out,” said Harris, who’s projected as a late first-round pick on most draft boards. “Just got to wait it out and see. I believe Coach Pearl’s going to be our head coach, so basically just see what happens and go from there.”
Said Hopson: “Each and every one of us, including myself, supports Coach Pearl to the fullest, and we want him back next year. He’s a great coach, he’s a great mentor and he’s a great person, a great friend of mine. I hope if he is here, I’m going to be here.”
Underclassmen have until April 25 to declare for June’s draft and can withdraw from the draft and return to school until June 14 if they haven’t hired an agent. UT is scheduled to go in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions June 10-11.
“Certainly I think with Tobias and Scotty,” Pearl said, “I think they’re both in very good position to work out and test the waters.
“Scotty being a senior next year, this would be his only opportunity to do that, and there will nothing harmed at all by him [doing] that. With Tobias …. you [can] only work out one time, whether he would do it at the end of this year, obviously, or do it at the end of the next year.”