Other than obviously a top 10 national caliber scorer, is he could have been an example for our directionless players of how hard to work:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25464077/almost-out-of-basketball-four-years-ago-tennessees-kevin-punter-emerges-as-a-star
the coach didn't think he would be best off playing at a high-major school.
"He told me that I probably would not be a high-major basketball player," Punter says now with a chuckle. "I swear to this day, and I've never forgotten that. He's my best friend to this day, and I never, ever forgot what he said. I promise you, every day I woke up and worked out. Days when I was tired and didn't want to get out of bed, I'd think about that and I'd spring right up. Every single day. When I got back to school my sophomore year, I worked out every single morning with that in the back of my mind."
"I love basketball to death," Punter said. "I just love to work and I don't mind working. I'm always in the gym, and I just like to prove people wrong. Trust me, a lot of people didn't think I'd be here today, even playing at the University of Tennessee. Things like that make me work harder. Once you start seeing results, for me how I am, it just makes me want to work harder."
And when I use the term "went to work," we're not talking just the token hours in the gym. We're talking about high-level workouts for hours on end where he's not ever taking a single flat-footed jumper. He's sprinting to spots, working on his handle, and continuing to get his jumper in order.
"I know a lot of guys who say they're in the gym and they work out, but they don't really do anything and they're not moving or anything. That's not me. I like to work out like I'm in an actual game. Get a defender there, and someone's trying to get up under me to block my shot or beat me to a spot. I have a great imagination and when I work out, that's what I'm thinking. I don't want to waste my time when I'm waking up early every single morning when I'm working out."
"He truly loves being in the gym as much as any player as we've been around. His hard work is evident." Barnes said.