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She wasn't merely the best in her sport this winter, she was the face of it.

And in the final days of a brilliant basketball career at the University of Tennessee, Candace Parker brought even more than that to the table.

We knew about her talent. We knew about her star power. At the last we found out about her courage.

Parker didn't lead the Lady Vols to a repeat NCAA championship with one arm tied behind her back. That might have been less of a bother.

Fighting through a painful shoulder separation, wearing a restrictive harness, she showed the heart of a champion. At times she single-handedly carried her team through the rounds to the program's eighth NCAA title.

She won a handful of national player-of-the-year awards and, in a no-brainer, was selected first in the WNBA draft.

Also a no-brainer, Parker is my choice for the top individual performance by a UT athlete in the 2007-08 season.

Here are the others.

2. Chris Lofton

His numbers were a little down from his 2007 SEC player of the year season. Only after the season did we learn why.

Lofton was a Wooden Award first-team All-American, a consensus first-team All-SEC pick and shattered the SEC's career 3-point basket record. He did all that carrying the secret that he had been treated for testicular cancer the previous spring.

3. Tonya Callahan

UT co-head coaches Karen and Ralph Weekly call Callahan the most complete softball player they've ever coached. Considering their credentials, that's no small compliment.

The slugging third-baseman was SEC player of the year, a finalist for national player of the year and a first-team All-American who led the SEC in batting, slugging percentage and, because nobody relished pitching to her, walks.

4. Christine Magnuson

Swimming operates largely out of the spotlight but what a year Magnuson had in the butterfly and freestyle. It's OK to admit you don't know much about Magnuson but you just might see her in Beijing this summer.

She was the SEC female swimmer of the year and became the first Lady Vol since 1998 to win an NCAA title. In doing so she became the fourth-fastest woman ever in the 100 fly. That's in the world. Four times, she was national swimmer of the week. That's the short version of her highlight reel.

5. Tyler Smith

His belated Thompson-Boling Arena debut was everything UT hoop fans hoped for. He fills up a box score but numbers don't paint the true picture of his value.

His best move came after the season, saying he'd return in 2008-09.

6. J.P. Smith

No UT athlete came farther to do more. The Australian was the SEC tennis freshman of the year, then capped off a brilliant season by fighting to the finals of the NCAA singles tournament.

No other freshman made All-America in singles and doubles.

7. Eric Berry

Sometimes blue-chippers are as good as advertised. Berry's play in the secondary at times made it difficult to believe he was a rookie.

He made every publication's Freshman All-America team and led the SEC with a school-record 222 return yards off turnovers. College Football News named him the national defensive freshman of the year.

8. Jerod Mayo

A second pick off a statistically challenged Tennessee defense. Linebacker Mayo was statistically excellent, leading the SEC in tackles.

The AFC champion New England Patriots made Mayo the 10th pick of the NFL draft.

9. Kylee Rossi

For the second consecutive season Rossi was SEC offensive soccer player of the year. Ever clutch, Rossi booted five game-winning goals in SEC play and hit the game-winner in overtime in an NCAA match with Clemson.

With 30 goals she's UT's career leader with another season to play.

10. Anthony Parker

Offensive linemen toil in anonymity unless they're hit with a penalty. But Parker got some positive feedback, too: first-team All-SEC (AP and coaches) and second-team All-America.

11. Nicky Anosike

This pick is about championships. Anosike raised her game in the NCAA tournament, particularly in the title game, where she was a buzz saw against Stanford.

It's also about inspiration. Anosike composed a contract that her teammates bought into, spelling out the commitment to win a championship.

12. Sarah Bowman

The Lady Vols get a lot of mileage out of Bowman's legs. She ran fourth in the SEC cross country meet, then won four SEC track events and anchored an NCAA-title relay. Her last race of the season broke the school record in the 1,500 meters.

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

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.