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Tennessee basketball: Victor Bailey Jr. will help replenish Vols backcourt

By Billy Williford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Victor Bailey Jr. #10 of the Oregon Ducks controls the ball during the first half of the game against Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Victor Bailey Jr. #10 of the Oregon Ducks controls the ball during the first half of the game against Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee basketball adds another transfer Victor Bailey Jr. to the 2019 recruiting class. He should help with the backcourt depth moving forward.

The Tennessee basketball team lacked backcourt depth last season and losing starting point guard Jordan Bone to the NBA Draft. The Vols only played three guards last season, and they all averaged over 27 minutes per game.

After averaging 31.0 minutes per game (Lamonte Turner) and 27.8 minutes per game (Jordan Bowden), the two will have to play significant roles next season as well. It’s also the last season for both guys on Rocky Top. That’s where newly acquired Victor Bailey Jr. comes in.

Tennessee picked up yet another transfer in Oregon’s sophomore guard Victor Bailey Jr. on Friday evening. Other teams that were in the mix were Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor.

According to 247Spors Composite rankings, Bailey was a former four-star prospect and the No. 86 overall player in the 2017 class.  He was ranked as the No. 19 point guard and No. 5 overall player from Texas.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder will join the 2019 class. However, he will likely have to sit out next season. So while Bailey won’t provide depth this upcoming season, he should be apart of building the next crop of guards.

In 73 games at Oregon, he averaged 7.4 points per game while playing roughly18 minutes. Last season, Bailey took 3.2 three-point shots per game connecting on 39.8 percent. Maybe more impressive was Bailey’s 91.1 percent from the three throw line.

So far, Barnes has the 2020 recruiting filled with potential. Four-star Corey Walker has already committed to the Vols. Five-star Jaden Springer is strongly considering Tennessee. Springer is ranked No.11 in the entire nation.

The Vols are also in on Keon Johnson, Matthew Murrell, P.J. Hall, and Bryce Thompson who are all four-star guys. If Tennessee can land two of those guys with the addition of Bailey, the backcourt could be a strong part of the team in 2020.

Next. 10 Vols with injury concerns for 2019. dark

There is still a possibility that Bailey plays in 2019, although it isn’t a good one. Even though it’s likely Bailey won’t see the floor next season it’s still an excellent addition for Rick Barnes.

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