Lamonte Turner
photo by James Boofer
KNOXVILLE – Lamonte Turner scored eight points and dished out 11 assists in Tennessee’s 75-53 basketball victory over Jacksonville State.
His performance was overshadowed by what took place afterward, specifically after he interrupted a postgame interview by saying: “To be honest, y’all, I didn’t really come here to answer questions about the team today.”
The redshirt senior guard then told reporters that Saturday was his final game with Tennessee. He decided Friday night, after a discussion with his family, to have season-ending surgery to address nagging pain in his left shoulder.
Turner’s announcement eclipsed Tennessee’s final game before the Christmas break, which ended a two-game losing streak and was coach Rick Barnes’ 700th career coaching victory. It also cast a shadow over UT’s season going forward without the Vols’ team leader and second-leading scorer.
“A lot of people know I have been battling an injury,” Turner said. “We haven’t known what it is or what is wrong or what is going on and stuff like that. As of like two weeks ago we finally figured it out. I have thoracic outlet syndrome. It has been affecting my nerves and stuff like that. It explains my shot and all the stuff that I have going through and battling.”
The syndrome is caused by a compression of nerves or blood vessels below the neck, resulting in pain.
Barnes said in a statement released by the university that Turner informed him of his decision following the interview session.
“We all love Lamonte and are saddened that he is unable to continue playing at this time,” Barnes said. “We’ll continue to support him as he takes his next steps.”
Turner’s field goal shooting was a telltale sign of the discomfort he’s been enduring. Even after shooting 4-for-6 from the floor on Saturday, his overall accuracy was 31 percent. A game-winning 3-pointer against VCU notwithstanding, he was shooting 23.4 percent from behind the arc this season.
“Seeing him with a lack of confidence in his shot, turning down shots, it’s hard man,” said teammate Jordan Bowden, who scored a game-high 19 points against Jacksonville State.
Turner was posting up near the basket during the second half against Jacksonville State. The strategy was part of an adjustment that resulted in the No. 21 Vols (7-3) scoring 45 points and shooting 59.4 percent from the floor (19 for 32). All three of Turner’s baskets during the final 20 minutes were scored at the rim.
Turner detailed what he had been doing in hopes of alleviating the condition and avoiding surgery.
“The only difference is mine is my left shoulder, not my shooting shoulder, so it not as bad,” he said. “I have been doing therapy for a few weeks. I got a shot in my chest and in my muscles to try to fix it a couple weeks ago. It didn’t really help and stuff like that. (Surgery) is the next step for me.”
Turner said that past year has been “extremely hard” and the ripple effect personally has been pervasive.
“It has just affected every area of my life in a way,” he said.
Turner said that he cried in the locker room after Saturday’s game, knowing that he had played his last game at UT. He confided that he’s cried many times while dealing with his condition. He thanked the team and the fans for their support
“I get emotional thinking about it and I get emotional talking about it,” he said. “I appreciate everything that everyone has done for me – the love, the support that I have here.”
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Dan Fleser is a 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri who covered University of Tennessee athletics for the Knoxville News Sentinel from 1988-2019. He may be reached at danfleser3@gmail.com