All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball: Vols still trying with Kerry Blackshear Jr.

By Billy Williford

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Kerry Blackshear Jr. #24 of the Virginia Tech Hokies shoots the ball against Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Kerry Blackshear Jr. #24 of the Virginia Tech Hokies shoots the ball against Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball team are still making a push at graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr. He should be in Knoxville next week.

It appears that Rick Barnes isn’t finished with the 2019 recruiting class, at least not yet. According to a report from GoVols247, Kerry Blackshear Jr. will be in Knoxville next week.

Blackshear put his name in the transfer portal after Buzz Williams left Virginia Tech to become the head coach to Texas A&M. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound power forward also put his name in the 2019 NBA Draft, but he didn’t receive an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine.

The graduate transfer is eligible to play next season, and many teams are pushing for his services. He’s already visited Arkansas, Florida, and Kentucky. Of course, Texas A&M isn’t out of the mix, and neither is Gonzaga.

Last Thursday, Jeff Goodman, a basketball analyst at Stadium, mentioned that Tennessee was still “tying” with Kerry Blackshear Jr.

Here is the problem, there aren’t any spots remaining on the roster. After losing Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bone, and Kyle Alexander, the Vols, needed a lot of help. Barnes and the coaching staff delivered by signing players. However, there is a lot of unknown and a lot of three-star talent.

Getting Blackshear would be a game changer and take what should be a bubble team at best into a solid 6-9 seed for next season’s NCAA Tournament.

Blackshear averaged nearly 15 points per game a season ago while adding 7.5 rebounds per contest. He stepped up for the Hokies in postseason play. Blackshear began the ACC Tournament with a 19 point performance against Miami (FL). He followed that up with a 17 point game in a loss to Florida State.

In three game in the NCAA Tournament, Blackshear scored 52 points while pulling down 28 rebounds.

Next. Tennessee Vols 10 notable 2010s coaching hires. dark

Tennessee fans would hate to lose out on yet another big-time recruit in the 2019 class, but if Blackshear doesn’t sign with the Vols, Gonzaga is the best place from him. One thing Tennessee can offer that most other teams can’t is Blackshear will be the “guy” in Knoxville next season.

Home/Vols Basketball