Chris Lofton's legacy hardly needed embellishment. Four years of jaw-dropping baskets were enough. Four years of hustle, class and character were sufficient.

But now that we know the rest of the story, wow.

I'm tempted to say that I don't know which is more impressive: that Lofton successfully beat testicular cancer and played his senior year; or, that he managed to keep the whole thing secret for an entire year.

If it was, say, a torn ACL, I might vote for the secret part. But an ACL isn't life-threatening. Cancer, of course, is.

And so, Tennessee fans will forever look at Lofton, already one of the most popular players in the history of the program, in a different light. Now that they know what he overcame to contribute to the greatest season in UT men's basketball history. Now that they can wonder at what it was like carrying the secret burden he carried.

The question on everyone's mind now is how to honor Lofton. Callers to The Sports Page, our News Sentinel radio show, had plenty of worthy suggestions Friday.

Name the practice court at Pratt Pavilion after Lofton. No one worked harder on his own than Lofton.

Name the 3-point arc at Thompson-Boling Arena Lofton's Line. It was his turf. He made 431 treys, more than anyone in SEC history.

Name a street after him. (Are there any streets left?)

Create a Chris Lofton Scholarship to be awarded to an oncology student.

There also is the traditional honor.

Coach Bruce Pearl has been saying Number 5 was going up in the rafters alongside Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld. He said that even before we knew the secret.

Happily, this is more than wishful thinking. Lofton meets the standard to have his number retired, a UT official said Friday.

Two years ago, UT determined four criteria to consider for number retirement. Candidates must meet two of the four to qualify.

Lofton was Associated Press SEC player of the year in 2007. That's one.

He was a John Wooden Award All-American in 2008. That's two. Because the Wooden Award lists all 10 recipients on the team equally, UT considers that first-team All-America, the official said.

The other two criteria are making an Olympic team or an NBA All-Star team.

Be patient. UT stipulates a five-year waiting period between the end of a career and retirement of a number.

For what it's worth, four other players meet the criteria. Dale Ellis (SEC player of the year, first-team All-America, NBA All-Star) and Allan Houston (Olympian, NBA All-Star) are likely next in line.

There is also Ron Widby, who was a Helms Foundation first-team All-American and SEC player of the year in 1967. Finally, Paul Walther was a first-team All-American in 1945 and played in the 1952 NBA All-Star game.

Lofton's story brings to mind that of another UT athlete.

Randy Jenkins came to the UT track team in 1990 as a high-jumper. Much like Lofton, Jenkins was an unheralded recruit. He was, in fact, a walk-on.

Some walk-on. In 1991, he finished second at the NCAA meet in Eugene, Ore., to help UT clinch the outdoor national championship.

Two months later, he was diagnosed with the cancer known as Hodgkins lymphoma. Jenkins took the 1992 season off as a medical hardship. He underwent radiation and chemotherapy.

Then he returned triumphantly, winning the NCAA high jump in 1993 and again in 1994.

As we know too well, not all cancer stories have a happy endings.

All the more reason to give thanks and embrace the ones that do.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.