Tennessee officially retired Chris Lofton’s No. 5 jersey on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.
During halftime of the Vols’ game against Kentucky, Lofton was brought out for a special celebration on the court as his former teammates, friends, and family watched on. Lofton’s banner was unveiled in front of the sold-out crowd and lifted high into the sky.
There were several Tennessee basketball icons in the building on Saturday as Bobby Maze, JP Prince, Dane Bradshaw, Cam Tatum, Tyler Smith, and countless more Lofton-era Vols made appearances. Tennessee also had Allan Houston and Candace Parker in the building as well. Both Houston and Parker took close-up pictures with Lofton and his family after the banner was unveiled.
The ceremony began with Chris Lofton addressing the crowd. It was short, sweet, and to the point, as he thanked the fans for their support and wished a “W” for the Vols. Lofton was then brought over to the side of the court where he shook hands with University chancellor Donde Plowman and Athletic Director Danny White. Lofton’s banner was officially revealed as he took many photos with his family.
The banner was then lifted to the rafters to close the celebration.
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Check out Rocky Top Insider’s pictures and videos of the event below. In addition, make sure to look into Rocky Top Insider’s Twitter and Instagram accounts for more photos and videos.
Almost a full 60 minutes after the end of the game and Chris Lofton is still taking pictures and signing autographs for fans. pic.twitter.com/rUofFBnTZg
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) January 14, 2023
