Tennessee basketball: Ranking Vols by landing spots following 2019 NBA Draft

Grant Williams went to the best of all places, and that puts him at the top of this list. Tennessee basketball was originally looking at a potential NBA starter with Williams. Now they’re looking at a potential star.

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Billy Williford wrote just last week that the Boston Celtics were the best place for him. So by being the only Vol to land a spot on any of those lists, he’s naturally going to top this list. That’s especially the case when he went in the first round at No. 22.

Now, the Vols’ most recognizable player from last year is the one most heavily invested in by a pro team since he went in the first round and has gone to his best landing spot. Al Horford being gone and not landing Anthony Davis leave the post wide open for the Celtics.

As a result, with the franchise potentially going into rebuild mode, Williams has a great chance to immediately be an effective player. Even if he is as short as 6’5″ and not 6’7″, he’s got the potential to be great by developing an outside shot to stretch the floor.

When it comes to free throws, post moves, work ethic and positioning, Williams is already there. Add in the fact that Brad Stevens is the head coach, and he’s in the perfect location. He’s playing for a guy with experience developing underdogs from his days coaching the Butler Bulldogs and who happens to value college success.

So Williams will get a serious look from Stevens and has an opening to start. He was Tennessee basketball’s biggest star last year, and within a couple of years he may be Boston’s. Simply put, he got the best landing spot.