The Tennessee basketball team welcomes a new coach, new coaching staff and eight new players coming into the 2014-15 season. Only four players returned from the previous season, one that saw the Vols reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
One of those new faces is Kevin Punter.
As a junior college transfer, Punter is expected to immediately contribute due to his experience. The 6’4″ guard played at State Fair Community College in Missouri, averaging 20.3 points (57.1 FG) and 4.6 rebounds a game last season.
While he originally pledged his services to the Missouri Tigers coming out of State Fair, he reopened his recruitment when Frank Haith left to coach Tulsa.
That’s when Donnie Tyndall came calling.
Tyndall had originally recruited Punter out of high school while coaching at Morehead State, so the two had formed a relationship prior to his recruitment to Tennessee.
Punter has had many different head coaches along his journey from high school to Tennessee, and he’s spoken to even more.
When asked how Tyndall compares to those coaches, Punter smiled. “I wouldn’t compare him to nobody,” he said after a Rocky Top League game, “He’s a great guy, and he wants to win. I don’t really compare him to nobody.”
Tyndall made enough of an impression on Punter that he remembered him years later when it was time to leave State Fair.
“When I heard he got the job offer, I already knew who he was and what he brought to the table,” Punter said. “He played a major role in persuading me.”
Now that the Bronx native has joined Tyndall and the Vols, he must find his role on the team. At State Fair, Punter was primarily used as a volume scorer, asked only to shoot and create his own shot.
Since coming to Knoxville, Punter has joined his teammates in the Rocky Top League, an exhibition league full of current and former Vols who come together to play a month’s worth of pick-up games to entertain fans in the offseason.
He has showcased his scoring ability and his knack for highlight-reel plays in the league, averaging 40 points per game, which leads all scorers. Last Wednesday he scored a RTL summer-high of 54 points.
“Scoring is not going to be a problem,” junior guard Armani Moore said. “He has game. He plays with a lot of confidence and isn’t scared to take any shot.”
While the Vols likely welcome his penchant for scoring, they are in desperate need of a point guard who can create opportunities for others and orchestrate the team. Punter has made it apparent he is willing to do whatever it takes to contribute to the team.
“I feel like I can play multiple (positions). Whatever coach needs me to play,” Punter said. “If he needs me to play the one a little bit, pass the ball, I can do that. If he needs me to be a scorer, I can do that. I can do multiple things.”
Punter’s addition cannot be understated; his mix of athleticism, versatility and experience is vital to a team that lost over 75 percent of its scoring, 71 percent of its rebounding and 79 percent of its assists from last season.
Aside from the four returning players on the roster, Punter will likely be looked to for leadership on this young team.
“Chemistry is going to come,” Punter said, “That’s something you can’t rush, can’t force upon a team.”
