Knoxville News Sentinel file photo by Caitie McMekin via AP / John Fulkerson is returning for a sixth basketball season at the University of Tennessee, the school he dreamed of playing for while growing up in Kingsport.It’s easy to list all that’s wrong with college basketball these days. One and done. Transfer portal. Name, image and likeness. Block-charge. Instant replay. The slowness, or complete absence, of NCAA justice for those who cheat.
But the University of Tennessee’s John Fulkerson has once more reminded us of all that’s right, or at least once was right, about college athletics in general. Especially when it involves an in-state kid falling in love with his most recognizable in-state university at a young age, then one day playing for it.
Fulkerson did what almost no one does these days when he announced Friday that he was coming back for a sixth season AT THE SAME SCHOOL.
“I think it just shows everyone my love and passion, first of all, for basketball,” Fulkerson told the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum. “And then secondly for the University of Tennessee. Playing for my home university, my home state, Coach (Rick) Barnes and his staff, the players we have coming in, the players we have returning, Knoxville, the fans. I knew I couldn’t pass it up.”
This is remarkable on so many fronts. And refreshing. And heartwarming. And loyalty affirming (if such a phrase exists.)