LOOK: Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes congratulates Tennessee legend Chris Lofton on his jersey being retired
Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes was lucky enough to coach former Tennessee sharpshooter Chris Lofton when he was an assistant for the Volunteers. Forbes spent five years in Knoxville as an assistant coach for Tennessee, from 2006-2011.
Lofton established himself as one of the most prolific shooters in college basketball history during his time with the Tennessee Volunteers–he still owns the SEC record for career three-pointers made. He also owns the record for the most three-pointers made in a game, season, and career in Tennessee basketball history.
The Volunteer legend recently learned that his iconic No. 5 jersey would be retired in the rafters of Thompson-Boling Arena during halftime of Saturday’s Tennessee vs. Kentucky game. Steve Forbes took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to congratulate the Tennessee sharpshooter on the achievement of a lifetime.
Check out his tweet below.
Steve Forbes went in-depth about Chris Lofton
“Sometimes in life, a person just gets ‘lucky’ and I was so very ‘lucky’ to have the honor and privilege to coach Chris Lofton at the U of Tennessee. I could tell stories about Chris and his on the court feats and accomplishments for hours and hours. Simply put, Chris Lofton is one of the greatest players in the history of Tennessee Basketball and I’m so proud the U of Tennessee is honoring his greatness by retiring his #5 jersey on Saturday during the Tennessee vs. Kentucky game. Chris is the greatest shooter I have ever coached, and to this day, he has the record for the most made 3’s (431) in the history of the SEC. In 2008, he played on one of the greatest teams in the history of Tennessee Basketball, a team that was ranked #1 in the country, a team that won the SEC title for the 1st time in 40 years, and a team that won 31 games, the most in the history of Tennessee Basketball,” Forbes wrote.
“But the biggest opponent Chris beat his senior year, was cancer. After our devastating 1-point loss to Ohio State in the Sweet 16 his junior year, Chris was picked up by the NCAA to take a mandatory drug test after the game. A week or so later, his test came back positive, but everyone who knew Chris, knew there was no way he could fail a drug test. After further tests, it was discovered that Chris had cancer. He began weeks of chemo treatments on the weekends throughout the summer, only to return to workouts with his teammates on Monday, after being sick all weekend. Only his family, our staff, and his teammate Jordan Howell knew what he was experiencing. He didn’t want anyone else to know. I will never forget a meeting we had with Chris in December (07) in Coach Pearl’s office before we went to Nashville to play Western Kentucky,” the Wake Forest head coach wrote.
“He was still feeling the effects of the chemo treatments and he wasn’t playing at the level we all knew he was capable of. He had the option to take a “medical redshirt” and play the following year, giving him a chance to recover from the terrible toll the chemo treatments had taken on him. I told him he deserved to have a better senior year than what he was having, and I will never forget what this SEC Player of the Year and All-American told me. “No coach, this season is not about me, it’s about our team. My teammates need me, and I want to be there for them. I’m not redshirting and I’m not telling anyone I have cancer.” To this day, it makes me cry thinking about how unselfish of a person and great teammate he was then and still is today,” Forbes wrote.
“Last Saturday, Chris sat behind our bench at our game in Louisville, and he spoke to our team in the locker room after the game. He spoke to our players about the commitment and perseverance it takes to be great, but his most important message to our players was simply put, “be nice to people.” Chris Lofton is the epitome of, “if you want to be KNOWN for something in your life, be KNOWN for being a good person.” Congrats C-Lo!!! Our family loves you so very much and I’m so excited that Johnetta and Johnathon will be in Knoxville to celebrate this much deserved honor with you!!! Steve Forbes–Wake Forest Head Coach.”
It’s a well-deserved honor for Lofton and it’s fitting for one of the greatest players ever to suit up on the hardwood for the Tennessee Volunteers.