KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --- Always regarded as the quietest member of the Tennessee Volunteer squad, Chris Lofton managed to keep the biggest secret of his life from his teammates and fans during his senior season.

The former guard, who struggled through the first half of the season with his shooting, had been treated for cancer after a random drug test tipped off school officials he had a tumor.

Lofton told reporters the testicular cancer was the hardest thing that he's ever gone through and didn't want it to overshadow his teammates during what turned out to be a history-making season for the Vols.

He said he was ready to reveal what he went through once he realized it might help other people.

"It's the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, but I know now there's nothing out there I can't overcome," Lofton told ESPN.com. "I wanted to deal with it on my terms because I didn't want it being a distraction for our team. I knew if it came out, everything would change. I didn't want it that way."

His entry in the 2007-08 Tennessee media guide says the title of a book about him would be "The Quiet One." He never refused to answer a reporters question, but usually did so with a shy smile and a soft-spoken answer.

Lofton and coach Bruce Pearl were expected to speak publicly about his cancer for the first time on Friday night before Tennessee's end-of-season banquet.

Lofton and Pearl acknowledged what the senior had gone through on Thursday, a week before graduation from Tennessee and as he begins to prepare for the NBA draft.

Lofton failed a drug test he was randomly selected for during the 2007 NCAA tournament, indicating potential steroid use or cancer.

He underwent surgery March 28, 12 days after the Vols lost to Ohio State in the NCAA regional semifinal, and began a month of radiation treaments a few weeks later.

Lofton's 431 3-pointers made are a Southeastern Conference record and rank third in NCAA history. He was The Associated Press' SEC player of the year as a junior and a second-team All-American.

He was a preseason All-American going into his senior season.