UT's new point guard can ball and rap

I'm a big fan of rap music and have been for the better part of the last decade. Used to love blasting Jay-Z and T.I. in the locker room before high school basketball games and playing Eminem (before he went crazy) on the iPod during bus rides.

I love walking down Greek Row after Vanderbilt victories as Kanye West blares from the speakers and hate when fraternities opt for the classic rock cover bands over hip-hop. And nothing beats driving fast with the windows down, bumpin' Tha Carter III.

So maybe that's why I have soft spot for Tennessee's incoming point guard Bobby Maze, also known as "Be-Amazed, B-Maze, aka, the Solution."

Maze averaged 20.7 points, 6.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game last season en route to earning junior college All-American honors at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College after playing at Oklahoma as a freshman. With Ramar Smith gone, Maze has a chance to start for the Vols. He said he just appreciates the opportunity.

"Too many people take this game of basketball for granted," Maze told Go Vols Xtra, "but I wouldn't have been the places I've been and be here if it wasn't for basketball.

"I'm very happy here. It's one of the best things that has happened for me in my life. People have no idea of the road I took to get here."

Maze arrived in Knoxville with a nickname, being called "The Solution" on the Sports Page radio show, a reference to his similar appearance to NBA star Allen Iverson, who's known as "The Answer."

Maze welcomed the nickname and uses it in this freestyle called "Put on Tennessee." While it's not nearly as good as the actual song with Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West, I've gotta give the dude some props. I know most Vanderbilt and Southeastern Conference fans are going to hate on Maze for his performance, but I thought it was pretty entertaining. Check it out for yourself.



Looks like Jermaine Beal has some competition for the best rapping point guard in the SEC. Who's down for a halftime battle between "Dolla" and "The Solution" this winter?