Former Tennessee transfer signee Chris Ledlum committed to St. John’s Wednesday afternoon. The four-year Harvard standout entered the transfer portal a week ago for the second time this offseason after enrolling at Tennessee.
Ledlum spent two and a half months in Knoxville and was sidelined this summer after undergoing knee surgery. The veteran forward originally committed to Tennessee over a top group which included Indiana and St. John’s.
“It was surprising. It caught us all off guard,” Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey said Tuesday. “Something that we weren’t expecting, obviously, coming off of the knee surgery that he was going through so it kind of caught us off guard a little bit. How does it affect us? Obviously he’s a great player. We wish him nothing but the best. I hope he finds what he is looking for, finds happiness.
A lot changed on Tennessee’s roster in the short time Ledlum was committed and enrolled. The Vols landed highly touted Northern Colorado transfer wing Dalton Knecht and Josiah-Jordan James announced he was returning for his super senior season.
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The Vols’ roster became very deep at the forward spot — particularly small forward. Still, Ledlum was poised to help the Vols as an undersized power forward in his final collegiate season.
“As far as it goes with us, it’s been our mentality ever since I’ve been here, since coach (Barnes) has been here, next man up,” Gainey said. “We’re really excited about JP Estrella’s development. Where he is going. Obviously Tobe has taken a major jump. Josiah is looking great. He’s healthy. Probably the first healthy summer he’s had in a long time.”
The 6-foot-6 225-pound forward averaged 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game a season ago and was one of the top players in the Ivy League.
Ledlum is a Brooklyn native and him transferring to St. John’s moves him much closer to home. The Red Storm hired former Kentucky and Louisville coach Rick Pitino as its new head coach earlier this offseason.
