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Top 10 Tennessee Vols legends not born in the state

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: Former Tennesse quarterback and current quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning is honored before the start of their game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on October 29, 2005 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo By Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: Former Tennesse quarterback and current quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning is honored before the start of their game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on October 29, 2005 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo By Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame /

While Ray Mears elevated Tennessee basketball to a national brand, it was his final two years that really cemented his legendary status with the Bernie and Ernie show, involving Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King.

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    • King was the centerpiece of that show. He came to Knoxville from Brooklyn. Despite the culture change, he was able to thrive and become a superstar.

    In each of his three years with the Tennessee Vols, King averaged between 25 and 27 points a game. On top of that, he averaged between 12 and 15 rebounds a game. A 6’7″ forward, King could stretch the floor in an extremely unique way for the time.

    As a result of all this, King was a three-time SEC Player of the Year. He helped the Tennessee Vols to two SEC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. And he made Tennessee basketball one of the most feared programs in the conference.

    Other UT legends followed him, including Dale Ellis, Allan Houston, Ron Slay and then the Bruce Pearl stars. But none of them reached the level King reached as a player.

    Add in what he did at the professional level, and he’s clearly an elite legend on Rocky Top. Some analysts have said that he could have been greater than Michael Jordan were it not for an injury that limited him at the next level.

    With his number retired, it’s still amazing that Mears was able to lure King to Knoxville from New York. But Tennessee Vols fans are grateful, and Rocky Top’s story in sports can’t be told without the efforts of King.

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