Turner starred at Austin-East High School, where he helped lead the Roadrunners to their first-ever state championship in 1977.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Former NBA player and newly inducted Tennessee Sports Hall of Famer Elston Turner returned to Knoxville to host his basketball camp.
The Elston Turner Basketball Camp is part of the Emerald Youth Foundation. Turner worked with boys and girls aged 6 to 18 from urban neighborhoods such as East Knoxville, Mechanicsville, Lonsdale and Oakwood-Lincoln Park—teaching them both skills on the court and life lessons off it.
“This is my hometown. I’m proud of it, and as long as I’m able, I’ll be coming back here, doing what I can to help the kids,” said Turner.
Turner starred at Austin-East High School, where he helped lead the Roadrunners to their first-ever state championship in 1977. He went on to play college basketball at Ole Miss before being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 1981. Over his eight-year NBA career, Turner played for the Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls. He now serves as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Timberwolves.