University of Tennessee Athletics
Stokes Learning Quickly for Vols
January 14, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2012
BY JOHN PAINTER
UTSports.COM
Jarnell Stokes' debut certainly gained the attention of the nation on ESPN as well as the entire world. During two separate 20-minute spans -- one during each half -- the term "Jarnell Stokes" was trending on Twitter both Worldwide and in the United States. The term "Size 20" in reference to Stokes' massive shoe size was also trending for a while just after his entry to the game in the first half as ESPN told the story of his enormous feet.
Stokes wasn't alone as "Skylar McBee" was also trending in the United States during the second half after he hit a key 3-point field goal. The term "Tennessee" was also listed often during trending on Twitter during the Vols game.
It's safe to say Tennessee's Jarnell Stokes is on a fast track.
Just 22 days after signing with the Vols - heck, only six days after his first practice - Stokes made his collegiate playing debut against none other than Kentucky, the nation's No. 2 ranked team and winners this season in 17 of their 18 games.
The Wildcats rallied Saturday for a 65-62 victory at sold out Thompson-Boling Arena, but Stokes showed flashes of what lies ahead for this improving Tennessee team.
"I felt good going into the game," Stokes said. "A scared man is a dead man, but it felt different here in the atmosphere of the crowd. It's something I haven't been used to over the past few months.
"Coach really prepared me for it and I was just playing for my team and the state of Tennessee. It was definitely different. There was a lot of adrenalin going through but I can build off that for the rest of the season."
Stokes entered Saturday's game at the second media timeout and proceeded to knock down his first three field goal attempts. Included was a driving hook shot in the lane and a smooth 17-footer above the free throw line.
"It definitely was big for me to make my first shot," he said. "I didn't realize how much the bumping and grinding and noise of the game would affect me, but it's just something I'll have to get used to.
"I was a little worried about how I would do coming straight out of high school, but I felt pretty good once the shot went in.
The Memphis product finished with nine points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action. He was forced into three turnovers but added a nice assist on a Jeronne Maymon layup.
"I plan to build off that," Stokes said. "I plan to watch film and learn some our defensive plays because I made a lot of defensive mistakes. But I'm not going to give excuses because I just came out of high school."
The Memphis product drew comments from both head coaches. Kentucky's John Calipari praised the Vols' toughness and said Stokes "makes them way better," while UT's Cuonzo Martin liked what he saw from his new power forward.
"I thought he did a good job," Martin said in his usual understated manner. "I won't grade him on how he executed defensively because that's so tough to do playing in such a short period of time. Even in practice, he's probably been in there only 30 percent of the time up and down the court.
"But he picks things up quickly. He's a very intelligent young man who has a good feel for the game."
Stokes likes where he fits into this Vols program and thinks he can make a difference. He appreciates Martin's confidence in him and has meshed well with his teammates.
"They have accepted me well," he said. "Guys like (Jeronne) Maymon, Cam (Tatum) and Trae (Golden) are giving me nothing but love. Coming in out of high school, I needed that. And the coaches have been great too, helping me with film every day and working out in the morning.
"I'm just playing for my state and my team. I love Tennessee."
