Have you heard about this Jarnell Stokes kid for Tennessee?  Rumors of his massive size, skills, and stretch-free flexibility are reaching legendary levels not seen since the chupacabra, the Yeti, the Winburn Panther, and Josh Carrier’s summer pick-up game domination.  Are his feet really bigger than Rajon Rondo’s hands?  Have you heard both sides of his pillow are cool?  Heard the one about Stokes dominating “The Most Interesting Man in the World” in jai alai and judo?  Is it true Stokes stole Marty McFly’s DeLorean and travelled back in time to become “the logo” for the NBA instead of Jerry West?  That’s what my best friend’s sister’s cousin’s boss at the Baskin Robbins in Landsdowne Center told me, so it’s got to be true.   

All kidding aside, Stokes has a bright future.  He’s getting quality minutes at an SEC school and he’s barely out of high school. In his first collegiate start against UConn, Stokes had 16 points and 12 rebounds.  That’s a solid stat line for anyone, especially against one NBA lottery pick (Andre Drummond) and another NBA first rounder (Alex Oriakhi).  That being said, let’s not get carried away.  If you listen to some college commentators (cough cough Jimmy Dykes cough cough), you’d think Jarnell Stokes has perfected a better sky-hook, gone airborne from the three-point line during dunk contests, and catches his own bounce passes. 

Tonight, Mr. Stokes will be head-to-head with Mr. Terrence Jones, who (hopefully) turned the corner against LSU this past Saturday.  Let’s see how he plays outside the friendly confines/garbage workers convention of Knoxville.

Go Big Blue.