KNOXVILLE — The state of Tennessee isn’t hurting for top-shelf college basketball talent, and much of it is homegrown.

One of the nation’s top players is Memphis native Lester Hudson, and he plays at the relatively remote outpost of Martin, Tenn. Hudson emerged from playground legend to college basketball star at UT-Martin last season, and the 6-foot-2, 24-year-old senior will lead the Skyhawks into Thompson-Boling Arena for a game tonight at 7 against the 14th-ranked University of Tennessee.

UT coach Bruce Pearl said after Monday’s practice that Hudson was “on every (NBA) draft board.”

“He’s a great player,” Pearl added. “He’s got the green light and then some. He’s got great range from 3, a quick release. He’s crafty off the bounce; he has good size and a great body. He’s a terrific scorer.”

And the Volunteers have no JaJuan Smith to guard him.

Junior guard Josh Tabb, who has resolved an academic issue, could make his season debut tonight off the bench, but the Vols might have to rely on SEC freshman of the week Scotty Hopson and fellow first-year Vols Renaldo Woolridge and Cameron Tatum to limit Lester’s touches.

“He’s a pro,” Tatum said. “He looks like a pro. This will be a good chance for guys like me and the (other) younger guys to show where we’re at defensively. I think we’re going to work real hard on that.

“This is my first time hearing a lot about him and playing against him. I heard a little last year. But I’m looking forward to the matchup to see where my defense is. It should be a good game.”

Hudson has stuffed more statistical sheets than UT junior All-America candidate Tyler Smith. He recorded the first quadruple-double in NCAA Division I history with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a blowout victory over Division II Central Baptist College last season.

Hudson added a triple-double — 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists — against Southeast Missouri State and averaged 34.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in losses to major programs Memphis and Vanderbilt. He finished the season fourth in D-I with 25.7 points per game, fourth with 2.8 steals per game and third with 3.8 3-pointers per game.

“It will be several different guys who will have to (guard) him,” Pearl said. “Don’t forget, coming out of pressure we won’t have a specific matchup for him. Everybody has to know his tendencies. Everybody has to be able to guard him.

“In the half court, he has to be identified. But because we press, he’s going to get shots.”

The Skyhawks, like most mid-major programs, rely heavily on their backcourt — and not just Hudson.

Hudson, Marquis Weddle and freshman point guard M.J. Brown combined for 65 points in UTM’s season-opening blowout of Division II Maryville (Mo.) College on Friday.

Brown, another West Tennessee native, nearly chose to walk on at UT before signing with UTM late this summer. He had several other mid-major offers.

Pearl compared the Skyhawks to VMI, which upset Kentucky in Rupp Arena on Friday.

“They have three 6-1, 6-2 guards that will spread us out,” Pearl said. “We’ve got length, but we’ll be challenged to guard them one-on-one off the bounce.”

Coaches and veteran players such as Smith have urged the team’s six newcomers to move on from Saturday’s 114-75 win over UT-Chattanooga.

“It’s not like that all time,” Smith said. “I’m trying to tell the younger guys that that was a great night. If we play like that every night, we probably would win the national championship. But it’s not going to go like that every night.

“That’s just reality.”

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