Tennessee announces plans to retire Chris Lofton's number
Chris Lofton is among the best to ever wear at Tennessee basketball jersey. In January, he’ll join elite company when the Volunteers retire his number.
Lofton’s No. 5 jersey will hang in the rafters at Thompson-Boling Arena during a ceremony on Jan. 14 when the Vols take on Kentucky, the program announced Thursday. A two-time consensus All-American during his time in Knoxville, Lofton set an SEC record with 367 career three-pointers.
In fact, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes brought Lofton to practice to tell him the news in front of the team in a special moment.
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“As a recovering basketball player/coach myself — and having worked in college athletics since the early 2000s — I am extremely familiar with what an outstanding player Chris Lofton was during his time here,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White said in a statement. “Having now learned more about his incredible work ethic, the adversity he overcame and the amazing character he displayed—and continues to display — I can’t wait to experience Thompson-Boling Arena when we unveil his banner in the rafters.”
Lofton is the fifth Tennessee player to see his number retired, joining Bernard King, Ernie Grunfield, Allan Houston and Dale Ellis. He played for Tennessee from 2004-08 and earned SEC Player of the Year honors in 2007. However, after the 2006-07 season, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and kept it quiet until after his senior season. He underwent surgeries and treatment before being declared cancer-free.
“It’s remarkable what a legacy Chris left here at Tennessee,” Barnes said in a statement. “Since I’ve been here, I can’t count the number of fans who have told me Chris Lofton stories. And I know all too well the type of shot-maker he was in the game’s biggest moments. He’s extremely deserving of this prestigious recognition.”
Lofton, a Kentucky native, currently plays professional basketball in Seoul, South Korea. But he’ll return to his alma mater for the ceremony Jan. 14 when Kentucky and Tennessee face off.