Tennessee basketball’s season came to an end on Sunday afternoon when Houston knocked off the Vols’ 69-50 in the Elite Eight. It was the second straight year that Tennessee’s season came to an end one game short of the program’s first Final Four.
The Vols now enter a crucial offseason as they look to replace four starters and six rotational players including program stalwarts Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey.
So what’s next for Tennessee basketball? Taking a look at the Vols’ roster entering the offseason with six scholarships available to work with.
Who Is Back?
This is not a long list. Tennessee has four returning scholarship players including starting center Felix Okpara (7.2 PPG and 6.4 RPG). Okpara is the lead returning man and his ability to defend the rim will be all the more valuable on a team without the perimeter defense that Zeigler and Mashack bring.
Sophomore forward Cade Phillips is back after averaging 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game. Center JP Estrella is back after missing almost the entirety of the season with a foot injury.
Lastly, freshman Bishop Boswell is back after playing a small role this season off the bench. Boswell played in 27 games this season. His offensive output was extremely minimal but he was a solid defender.
In this day in age, anyone entering the transfer portal would not be overly surprising but Tennessee feels solid about its four players with remaining eligibility returning.
Incoming Freshmen
Tennessee basketball signed two prospects back in the fall— four-star wing Amari Evans and four-star center DeWayne Brown. The 6-foot-5 Evans ranks as the nation’s No. 64 player according to 247sports and is a high level wing defender with a good chance of earning a role as a true freshman.
Brown is an undersized 6-foot-8 center who is likely more of a developmental piece. The same is the case for three-star point guard Troy Henderson who committed to Tennessee last week. He could push for backup point guard minutes as a freshman but the Vols will add a starting point guard in the portal.
Tennessee continues to recruit five-star shooting guards Brayden Burries and Matthew Able as well from the prep ranks.
Top Needs In Portal
The Vols need help everywhere in the portal besides center. And Tennessee could potentially end up adding a body there if someone enters the portal. But otherwise, I expect the Vols to roll with what they got.
Tennessee will be adding bodies everywhere else but point guard is the biggest need in the portal. I expect the Vols to spend big at the spot to add a proven power five point guard.
Otherwise, shooting is a major emphasis for Tennessee in the backcourt. Boswell is not a strong shooter and the Vols need to add players in the backcourt that can stretch the defense. Look for Tennessee to add a stretch forward similar to Igor Milicic who can play on the perimeter but has the size to defend big men and rebound.
A Few Names To Watch In The Portal
More names will emerge in the days and weeks to come but here’s a few transfer portal names that Tennessee is interested in at the moment.
Virginia sharpshooter Isaac McKneely is visiting Louisville this weekend but will be in Knoxville by Monday night and will visit all day Tuesday before traveling back home. McKneely is one of the top names in the transfer portal and Louisville and Tennessee being the top contenders with North Carolina and a return to Virginia also possible.
The Vols have interest in Purdue Fort Wayne combo guard Jalen Jackson (19.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG) as well as Robert Morris stretch four Alvaro Folgueiras (14.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG). Tennessee is working to line up a visit with both players. Jackson has one year of eligibility remaining while Folgueiras has two.
Sam Houston’s Lamar Wilkerson, Kennesaw State’s Adrian Wooley and North Dakota State’s Jacari White are other names in the portal that Tennessee has some interest in but things aren’t as far along at this point.
One Potential Curveball
The one potential curveball in everything is the possibility of a rule that gives every college athlete five years of eligibility without redshirts passing. The thought is that this is going to pass at some point but likely won’t be in time for Tennessee’s current crop of four-year seniors.
If that ruling does get past by this summer and Tennessee can bring back some seniors from this roster, look for them to do so.
One Response
Regardless of the players, do not expect much from the VOLS next season.