Mr. Basketball goes to college
Posted by Mike Fields on December 19, 2007
University of Tennessee senior Chris Lofton, a preseason All-American, was on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s college basketball edition a few weeks ago. A three-point shooting artist, Lofton hasn’t painted any masterpieces yet this season (he’s only shooting 35% overall), but give him time. He’s got the best stroke since Michelangelo.
Lofton, who led Mason County to the 2003 state title and was Mr. Basketball in 2004, is one of five Kentucky Mr. Basketball winners playing college hoops. Lofton is the most famous. He’s scored more than 1,700 points and 345 three-pointers in his career at UT. He’s averaging 14.4 points this season for the Vols (9-1). He averaged 20.8 as a junior.
Here’s a rundown on the other Mr. Basketball winners:
Ross Neltner, Highlands (Mr. Basketball 2003): After playing his first two years at LSU, Neltner transferred to Vandy. He started 33 of 34 games last season and averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds for the Commodores. The 6-foot-9 senior is averaging 10 points and 5.5 rebounds this year. Vanderbilt rallied from 18 points down in the second half to beat DePaul in overtime on the road and improve its record to 10-0.
Domonic Tilford, Jeffersontown (Mr. Basketball 2005): Tilford signed with Cincinnati but wound up going to New Mexico Junior College instead. He’s now a 5-10 junior guard starting at South Alabama, where he’s averaging 14.3 points and hitting 43% (23 of 53) of his threes. He hit 6 of 11 threes and had 20 points in an overtime loss to Vanderbilt a few weeks ago. He was 3 of 6 from long range and had 15 points in a three-point loss to Ole Miss. South Alabama is 7-3, including a win over Mississippi State.
Walt Allen, South Laurel (Mr. Basketball 2006): A fabulous MVP performance in the 2005 Sweet Sixteen while leading South Laurel to the state title vaulted Allen to star status. He saw limited action in his freshman season at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., and he’s now a 6-4 sophomore reserve for the Blue Hose. He’s averaging 4 points and 19 minutes a game for Presbyterian, which is struggling mightily with a 1-12 record.
Steffphon Pettigrew, Elizabethtown (Mr. Basketball 2007): Pettigrew burst into stardom his senior year at E-town by averaging 33.6 points and 13.3 rebounds a game. Nobody expected him to step in as a freshman at Western Kentucky and light it up. But he is showing signs of developing into a consistent contributor for the Hilltoppers. Pettigrew, a 6-5 guard, is avearging 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds while logging 15 minutes a game for WKU (7-3).
