It hasn’t been the easiest road for Tennessee junior Scott Price.

From receiving only one offer out of high school — University of South Carolina Sumter Junior College — to the starting first baseman of the Volunteers, Price has clung to one thing through the years: his dream.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the pros,” Price said. “I can only take advantage of the opportunities given to me and this was my best opportunity. I want to take full advantage of it.”

Price graduated from Batesburg-Leesville High School in South Carolina “way out in the country” with just over 100 students. The first baseman wanted to continue his career and an offer from Junior College start-up USC Sumter was the only one on the table.

“Coach (Tom) Fleenor gave me a chance,” he said. “I wasn’t recruited out of high school except for him and he gave me a chance to come in and play right away. I did and it was two of the best years of my life.”

During Price’s time playing for the Fire Ants, the team captured a regular season regional championship his first season and finished runner-ups in the regional tournament in the next.

“They’ve really turned that place into something special. We won, we won a lot there,” he said of his time at Sumter.

After his first season playing for Fleenor, the coach started pitching Price’s name around to larger universities. Bill Mosiello, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Tennessee, was one of the coaches contacted.

“He (Mosiello) was sold on him (Price) the first time he saw him,” head coach Dave Serrano said.

But the prospective transfer still had obstacles to overcome and decisions to make.

Though Tennessee was the most high-profile program to approach him, UT didn’t have a scholarship to offer.

With offers from Richmond and Virginia Tech on the table, Price chose to be a recruited walk-on for Serrano and his young program.

“It is a great story and a tribute to he and his family,” Serrano said. “He didn’t receive a scholarship and he committed to us in the early signing period in November. Then, he went out and had probably his best season of his career and won a lot of awards in junior college and stood to his guns that he was coming to Tennessee. He was able to pay his own way and I think that is just a tribute to him and the type of person he is.”

Being part of the rebuilding process under Serrano was a big influence on Price and his decision to come to Tennessee.

“I want to be part of that process that gets this program back on the map and back to where it should be,” he said.

Price was rewarded for his commitment to the Volunteers by being named the starting first baseman for UT opening day against UNLV. And he didn’t disappoint.

The first baseman went 5-for-5 in his first game at Tennessee and, according to Serrano, might have set the bar too high.

“It might have been the worst thing he could have done,” Serrano joked. “By setting the bar at 5-for-5 the only place to really go is down. But in all seriousness, I like what I have seen from him at the plate and he has, and will continue to be, a big part of our lineup.”

The transfer has started all 11 games for UT and been in the middle of the lineup.

“I think he is a very good first baseman,” Serrano said. “He’s really saved some of our young infielders with some of their throws because he has done a good job around the bag. He’s been a run producer for us.”

Though Price continues to work everyday, he took the time to step back and reflect on his path to Rocky Top.

“Coach Mo (Mosiello) gave me a chance up here and now it’s real,” Price said. “My dream has come true.”