The expectations that came with the five-star label that followed Robert Hubbs III were too much to live up to.

In the first 12 games of his Tennessee career, the then-freshman Hubbs averaged five points per game and shot 30.7 percent from the field.

Not necessarily five-star status.

The shoulder injury that forced him to miss the Volunteers’ final 25 games didn’t help either.

But when Hubbs, a former Dyer County High School star who averaged 25 points, seven rebounds and two assists in his final season for the Choctaws, suffered a wrist injury during UT’s offseason camp, the last of the weight stemming from those five-star expectations finally came crashing down.

“He had a sprained wrist and missed a practice or two,” Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall said. “He just didn’t seem like himself. So I talked to him, I said, ‘Robert, to me, it seems like you are carrying to weight of the world on your shoulders. You can’t worry about what other people think you should be, you can’t worry about what others hope you will be or what they expect you to be. You just need to be the best Robert Hubbs you can be.’

“I told him I am not going to worry about the fans or these crazy media people and whatever they write, and you can’t worry about the fans or the crazy people back home that think you should average 38 points a night.”

Tyndall’s pep talk worked.

A couple practices later, Hubbs no longer resembled a player lost in the shadow of his high school ranking.

“I can’t worry what anybody thinks or says about me,” Hubbs said. “After me and coach Tyndall had that talk, I could see my game rise to another level each and every day. I’m just trying to stay focused and do what I have to do to get better.”

And it didn’t take long for his teammates to realize the difference once he stepped out from that five-star darkness he had been trapped in ever since he stepped onto campus.

“He’s been a lot more aggressive,” senior guard Josh Richardson said. “He’s worked hard to get back on the court after his injuries. He should surprise a lot of people this year.”

Dressing out in orange and white this year, however, was not always a certainty.

When Cuonzo Martin left UT to fill the head coaching vacancy at the University of California, Hubbs faced a decision on whether he should go find another school to play for.

His best friends and fellow freshmen Darius Thompson and A.J. Davis decided to leave.

Hubbs opted to stay.

He learned a new system — offensively and defensively — and lifted the five-star weight off of his shoulders.

Now he finds himself as a main cog in Tyndall’s rotation, starting their season opener against No. 15 VCU, logging 19 minutes.

“I definitely wanted to stick around and help this program rebuild,” Hubbs said. “I just felt something special in my heart and I’m glad I stayed.”

With his head cleared and his body finally healthy, the Volunteer faithful might be happy he stayed too.