Developmental Players
The Vols used several players off the bench this year, and some of those players didn’t have as big of roles as others. This next and final group is comprised of players who didn’t play as much this year and still have plenty to work on before they are ready to be big time contributors.
Chris Darrington, G – Find a Role
Darrington is unlike the others on this list in that he likely should’ve been a bigger factor for the Vols this season. He transferred in from the junior college ranks and was used a decent amount early in the season. He was averaging almost 13 minutes per game and 4.5 points per contest in the first 12 games of the season. But down the stretch, he hardly played and was leapfrogged by other guards. Darrington managed to score just 10 total points in the 13 games he appeared in over the last three months of the season. He showed in JUCO that he can score and be an effective player, but Lamonte Turner took that role this year. Darrington needs to find his role on the team next year if he wants to see the court more.
Jalen Johnson, G/F – Stay Healthy and Hit the Weights
Tennessee’s coaches and players alike love Jalen Johnson. The problem for him has been staying healthy and finding consistency in his game. Johnson redshirted last year then dealt with chronic shin splints over the summer and had surgery. Johnson began to play more as the season wore on, but he still doesn’t have the strength needed to be an every game player. If he hits the weight room hard this offseason, he could finally show what he has next year.
Yves Pons, F – Find a Jump Shot
You’d be hard pressed to find a more physically impressive and athletic player on Tennessee’s roster than Yves Pons. But just like Kyle Alexander when he first joined the Vols, Pons is very raw. Maybe not as raw as Alexander — who had only played two years of basketball before his freshman year at UT — but Pons is still green. He, like Johnson, was given more opportunities down the stretch and flashed some potential. Pons is good at slashing to the basket, but he needs to work on his jumper. He only attempted three three-pointers this year, but he hit two of them and was 7-of-14 overall from the floor. If he can work on his jump shot and add that to the physicality and energy he already plays with, then he could be a weapon off the bench in a year or two.
Zach Kent, F – Get Some Grit
The Vols had no replacement for Kyle Alexander when he wasn’t on the floor this year, and that was never more obvious than Tennessee’s Round of 32 loss to Loyola. Kent is the only player on the roster with the size to match Alexander’s, and he needs to be the backup center for the Vols this year. Kent redshirted this past season and hopefully used that time to condition himself. He appeared in two games, but they were against two of UT’s weaker opponents in High Point and Presbyterian. Kent showed in high school that he actually has a solid offensive game for a 6-foot-10 post player, but he’ll need to toughen up on defense and overall if he wants to hand in the SEC. And the Vols desperately need that from him (or someone else if not him) too.
