Chris Lofton to the rafters: Tennessee retires jersey number of Volunteer basketball great
Chris Lofton’s No. 5 is hanging in the rafters of Thompson-Boling Arena.
Tennessee held a jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of UT’s game Saturday against Kentucky. Lofton joins Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Allan Houston and Dale Ellis as Tennessee men’s basketball players to have their jersey numbers retired. Houston and Candace Parker were among those on hand for Saturday’s ceremony.
The #LoftonLegacy forever on Rocky Top pic.twitter.com/NEdbVhwqkz
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 14, 2023
To the rafters forever #LoftonLegacy pic.twitter.com/KC5Y5lrzkq
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 14, 2023
The fifth @Vol_Hoops player to have his jersey retired: Chris Lofton ? pic.twitter.com/w4vHZ78Tif
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 14, 2023
Lofton played at Tennessee from 2004-08. He’s known as the 3-point king for his SEC record 431 career 3-pointers. He was an AP All-American during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Lofton quietly underwent cancer treatments after a diagnosis following his junior season. As a senior, he started all 36 games and led Tennessee to 31 wins averaging 15.5 points per game, earning a spot on the Wooden All-America Team. Lofton’s battle with cancer did not become public knowledge until after his senior season concluded.
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Tennessee sportsbooks are live in the Volunteer state since November 1, 2020. Tennessee was the first SEC state to legalize sports betting.
They could have used him today.
Of course, a guy we never recruited gets his jersey retired while one of our worst teams drills the Vols at home today. Still Kentucky and always on top!
On top of what?
One might say their sister, but we’ll save that one for the Gumps.
On top of Tennessee and LSU? TF you talking about
Lofton haunts Tubby Smith till this day, really one of the biggest mistakes he made at UK. Great player even better person.
The Karma came back to haunt utk, they should a retired it against utm.