University of Tennessee Athletics
Prince Takes Pride in Passing on Knowledge
February 26, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2010
By Zach Stipe, UT Media Relations
At a recent practice, senior forward J.P. Prince put his arm around freshman post Kenny Hall and whispered some encouragement to his younger teammate. It was seconds after Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl had barked at Hall during a drill, and one of the many examples of the way the soft-spoken Memphis, native is leading the Vols during his final season.
"That's what being a senior is all about: taking ownership of the team, and understanding coaching because he has gone through it," Pearl said. "J.P. understands that I'm going to be tough - I'm going to be hard on them. He knows to tell Kenny: `listen to what he's saying - don't pay attention to how he is saying it.'"
Prince takes his role as mentor seriously, because former Vols like JaJuan Smith, Chris Lofton and Dane Bradshaw took him under his wing when he arrived at Rocky Top in 2007.
"You want to try to show them the ropes the same way all of the older guys did for me," Prince said. "You want to spread the knowledge and keep the tradition going. You pass on everything that you learned from the guys ahead of you, and keep passing it on so everybody gets the same experience and enjoys it."
The younger players can also pick up a thing or two from Prince's play on the court. The rangy, 6-7 forward is capable of guarding every position on the floor and always looking to thread a pass to an open teammate as often as he's throwing down one of his signature two-handed dunks.
He does the dirty work, too, leading the team in charges drawn and steals. Prince is also second on the Vols in total assists.
His style of play is so unconventional - so versatile - that Prince, himself, struggles to define it.
"I can't really describe it," he said. "Everybody knows I just like to go play ball."
Pearl, however, has a word to describe Prince's game: productive.
"He is one of the most productive players we have," Pearl said. "I'm so proud of the way he's playing and how he has worked to continue to be a good sport and a great competitor."
And work Prince has. His long path to his senior season took many different turns.
He started his collegiate career at Arizona where, as a freshman in 2005-06, he didn't see much playing time. The real setback, however, occurred that spring when complications stemming from wisdom teeth surgery led him to be put into an induced coma for several weeks and wiped 25 pounds off his already wispy frame.
Prince bounced back from the scary experience to play in three games with the Wildcats at the start of the 2006-07 season. He opted to transfer closer to home soon after, though.
His debut at Tennessee was also sidetracked by shoulder surgery, but since getting on the court for the Orange and White in 2007, Prince has been vital cog in the Vols' attack.
His experiences and his unselfish play make him a reliable leader for a Tennessee team that has gone through drastic lineup changes since the suspensions of four players in early January.
As one of only three scholarship seniors, Prince knows he has a responsibility to prepare the underclassmen - like Hall - for life after the Class of 2010 is gone.
"As seniors, we just try to help the younger guys in situations where you were there once," Prince said. "They're growing up pretty fast. Soon, we won't be here."
But you will be missed.
