The dust has settled from the initial movement from the transfer portal following the 2023-2024 basketball season. And, as expected, Tennessee falls into that category. The Vols’ basketball program has seen movement from several players, both incoming and departing, since the end of the season in March.
With three of Tennessee’s starters playing in their fifth and final season of college basketball, it was expected that they would be losses. But the transfer portal always prompts some sort of chaos and uncertainty, which is another aspect that Tennessee had to deal with.
Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, Josiah-Jordan James, and Santiago Vescovi are all moving on through graduation as the trio of players look to continue their careers at the next level. The Vols also lost two forwards and two guards through the transfer portal, with all four players landing at a new program as of this publication: Jonas Aidoo is heading to Arkansas, Tobe Awaka to Arizona, Freddie Dilione to Penn State, and D.J. Jefferson to Longwood.
Rick Barnes’ program has brought in replacement players, though. Tennessee has three additions through the portal as of this publication including Hofstra’s Darlinstone Dubar, Ohio State’s Felix Okpara, and Charlotte’s Igor Milicic Jr. All three players bring length and versatility to the program, with Dubar being a strong scoring wing, Milicic as a versatile stretch-four, and Okpara as a true center in the paint.
The Vols are set to return six players from the Elite Eight roster, three seniors and three sophomores: Zakai Zeiger, Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack, Cam Carr, J.P. Estrella, and Cade Phillips. Tennessee will also add 6-foot-4 guard Bishop Boswell from the 2024 recruiting class, a four-star prospect according to all four major publications.
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Here’s a look at where Tennessee’s roster for the 2024-2025 season stands as of May 6 at 12:00 p.m. ET:
Departing:
G Dalton Knecht (Graduation)
G Santiago Vescovi (Graduation)
G Josiah-Jordan James (Graduation)
F Tobe Awaka (Portal – Arizona)
G Freddie Dilione (Portal – Penn State)
G D.J. Jefferson (Portal – Longwood)
F Jonas Aidoo (Portal – Arkansas)
Returning (2024-2025 class):
G Jordan Gainey (Senior)
G Zakai Zeigler (Senior)
F Cade Phillips (Sophomore)
F J.P. Estrella (Sophomore)
G Jahmai Mashack (Senior)
G Cameron Carr (Sophomore)
Recruiting:
G Bishop Boswell – 4-star (On3, 247, ESPN, Rivals)
Transfer Portal Pickups (2023-2024 Stats):
Hofstra F Darlinstone Dubar – 17.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.4 APG
Ohio State C Felix Okpara – 6.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 0.5 APG
Charlotte F Igor Milicic Jr. – 12.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.7 APG
