Tennessee Basketball Draft Picks In The Millennium

Dec 3, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Joey Dorsey (8) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jarnell Stokes (1) battle for a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Grizzlies 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

4. Jarnell Stokes (35th pick to the Utah Jazz)

Stokes was also the subject of a draft night trade, to his hometown Memphis Grizzlies in the 2014 draft.

Everyone remembers Stokes debut against a second ranked Kentucky Wildcats team. The early high school graduate, and mid-term enrollee, scored nine points and four rebounds. We cannot forget him being unable to wear the same orange shoes as everyone else because his special order size 20’s had not come in yet. Announcers let us know that EVERY TIME the Vols played on TV for the remainder of the season, and some of the next season.

He finally got past the point of the shoe story with his play on the court. Perhaps one of the best rebounders to wear orange and white, Stokes nearly averaged a double-double per game his sophomore year with 9.6 rebounds, and actually did average one his junior season with ten rebounds a game.

Stokes finished his time in orange ranked fourth in double-doubles, and the all-time record holder for offensive rebounds.

Some of his accolades include: All-SEC Freshman Team, All-SEC Second Team, All-SEC First Team, and won 2 gold medals with the U18 national team, and the JUSA Junior National Team.

Many were unsure if Stokes would come back for his senior season, and others believed he needed another year to develop.

However, he left for the draft, and is now found on his hometown team in Memphis learning behind one of the best big man duos in the league, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

Stokes could potentially be wearing Memphis Grizzlies blue for a long time if given the opportunity.