The NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder announced Wednesday that it has signed VFL Scotty Hopson (2008-11).
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
A 2011 first-team All-SEC guard who scored 1,305 points during his three seasons with the Volunteers, Hopson has previous NBA game experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2013-14 campaign and the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Prior to signing with the Mavericks, the 28-year-old Hopson starred for Turkish club Galatasaray, averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.6 minutes per game last year.
A native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Hopson came to Tennessee as a McDonald’s All-American and five-star prospect (ranked fifth overall by Rivals in the class of 2008). He helped guide the Vols to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2010.
He appeared in 103 collegiate games, with 98 starts, and averaged 12.7 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting .354 from 3-point range with 151 makes from beyond the arc.
Hopson, who turned pro after his junior season, spent part of this past summer in Knoxville working toward his degree requirements as part of Tennessee’s Renewing Academic Commitment (RAC) program.
Hopson’s signing gives Tennessee five alums who are currently under contract with NBA teams. He joins Tobias Harris of the Los Angeles Clippers, Jordan McRae of the Washington Wizards and Josh Richardson and Jarnell Stokes of the Miami Heat.
-UT Athletics
