It is an honor that Chris Lofton did not expect.
Then again, it shouldn’t be a surprise to those who have grown up following Lofton’s life and the career. The former Mason County and Tennessee star has experienced more prior to his 30th birthday than those perhaps twice his age could ever envision.
One more distinction will be given Lofton Saturday night when he takes the stage at the State Theater in Elizabethtown.
Hall of Famer.
“When I think of Hall of Fame, I think about guys being 40, 50 years old,” Lofton said last month. “I’m 28, I’m older but it still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
The love for competition and constant pushing to be better will be a constant theme during the program as Lofton will be among 16 people to be added to the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class and the first from the area.
“Being from this small town in Maysville, sports is a way of life,” Lofton said. “I remember growing up, I couldn’t wait to play for the Mason County Royals in basketball and football. It’s just a part of Maysville, it’s all about sports. It was so much fun for me to be able to put on that jersey for the first time as a freshman and I just enjoyed it.”
From the minds of Kelly Wells and David Buchanan at Mason County to Buzz Peterson and Bruce Pearl at Tennessee, Lofton received a number of lessons and instructions from coaches on the playing surface. However, he credits two people for most of his work.
“It started with my parents (Franklin and Kathleen Lofton), seeing how hard they worked and what they did for me,” Lofton said. “I think it just carried off on me.”
Lofton was the definition of a two-sport star in high school. As a member of the Mason County football team, he still holds career records in receptions (175), receiving yards (3,511) and receiving touchdowns (38). He also has the top two single-season marks in those categories with 74 catches for 1,624 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2003, his senior season, as single-season highs.
Yet it was his work on the basketball court that showcased his stardom the brightest. While he spent a chunk of his time at the Limestone YMCA, the Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club or the Mason County Fieldhouse, there was no other stage that was a bigger platform than Rupp Arena.
Before Lofton’s arrival into the program, the Royals had yet to raise a state championship banner to the rafters of the Fieldhouse. After a taste of the state tournament in 2002, Lofton took over in 2003 with a state tournament record 17 3-pointers and capped it off with an 86-65 win over Ballard in the championship. He was named tournament MVP for his efforts.
“It was a surreal feeling that night,” Lofton said. “I remember getting back to the hotel afterward and couldn’t sleep… When you do it, not just winning it, but doing it with your friends you grew up with, that was the most important thing.”
Lofton led the Royals to the cusp of another state championship the next season but Bowling Green Warren Central stood in the way and won a 66-56 overtime game to deny Mason County. He said that not only was the moment devastating, it’s still hurts when it’s brought up to this day.
In all three years of playing in Lexington, Lofton made the All-State Tournament Team. His trophy case would also be joined by Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The 2,763 career points was also a record that Lofton set during his time.
However, the offers he was searching for were not available. Lofton became the third Mr. Basketball from the state of Kentucky to sign with Tennessee and immediately became an impact. In his first season in Knoxville, Lofton set an SEC record of 93 3-pointers.
“When I got down there, I just wanted to prove everyone wrong,” Lofton said.
But it wasn’t until his sophomore year, when Pearl arrived as the head coach, that Lofton really started to shine. In 2006, the sharpshooter connected on a school record 114 shots from beyond the arc, helped pace the Volunteers to the first of six-straight NCAA Tournament berths and was a Wooden Award Finalist.
No greater win on the court could have come than on Feb. 7, 2006 in Lexington. Lofton went 11-of-18 from the field and 7-of-10 from 3-point range for 31 points and a 75-67 win over Kentucky. A reporter asked afterwards what it was like to be home.
“This is not my home,” Lofton said. “Maysville is.”
When Lofton graduated, he helped Tennessee to its first-ever No. 1 ranking, a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and received numerous All-American awards. While he averaged 15.5 points a game his senior season, it came on the heels of winning one of his biggest battles off the court.
During the 2007 NCAA Tournament, Lofton was randomly selected for drug testing and eventually found out that he had testicular cancer. With very few aware of the condition, Lofton underwent treatments and played his senior season cancer-free.
“I’m not a guy who cries a whole lot around people,” Lofton said in a 2008 interview with ESPN.com. “But I cried more this past year than I have my whole life combined. I cried a river this past year.”
With 2,131 career points and an SEC-record 431 career 3-pointers made and most importantly, in good health, Lofton’s story was ready for the next chapter.
“Chris represented Maysville well and is very proud of his roots and where he came from,” Pearl said. “To be able to add to the history and the glory of his hometown and his high school is very significant to Chris and his family… A living legend and doing it all the while, graduating from the university, outliving cancer, truly a remarkable man.”
Since turning pro, Lofton has made a name for himself overseas after a brief stint in the NBDL. Nearly two months ago, Lofton agreed to a two-year contract extension with Besiktas of the Turkish Basketball League.
He returned last month to Maysville to co-headline a basketball camp with fellow Mason County alum Darius Miller. Lofton, who is proud to call Maysville as his home, understands the importance his actions have on area children, especially when he returns home during the offseason.
“Character is first, people always remember your character and that’s what’s most important,” Lofton said. “Whether you can play basketball or not, I realize and feel that your character takes you farther. I just always wanted to be a good person and my parents taught me that.”
When he does make the drive with family and friends to Elizabeth, Lofton believes the title “Hall of Famer” will become more natural. He also hopes the word coach is also associated with him once his playing career is finished.
Miller followed Lofton’s path by leading the Royals to the 2008 state championship and landed a scholarship to play at Kentucky and a national championship in 2012. As a current NBA free agent, Miller is proud to be friends with Lofton and owes a lot to the former Mason County star.
“I’ve always been around him, seeing how hard he works,” Miller said. “He really deserves it. I’m just happy for him and proud of him because he was like a role model to me growing up, it couldn’t happen to a better person.”
Chris Lofton goes in for a layup during the 2003 State Championship.
Chris Lofton puts up a shot during the 2003 KHSAA State Tournament.
Chris Lofton signs autographs during a pep rally following the Mason County Royals’ 2003 State Championship victory.
Chris Lofton is shown playing in the final game of the 2003 KHSAA State Basketball Tournament.
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