Tennessee basketball: Ranking toughest Vols to replace for 2019-2020

Of everybody on here, Admiral Schofield has the most potential replacements. After all, Yves Pons was once a four-star player recruited specifically for his athletic ability on the wing. Davonte Gaines was a key pickup on the recruiting trail, and he can fill in if he develops at 6’7″. Then there’s 6’6″ guard Jalen Johnson.

Meanwhile, if Barnes wants to, he can play small given the elite guards he has, including two returning scorers in Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden and five-star combo guard Josiah-Jordan James. All of these players could help offset the loss of a wing player in a general sense, and that’s why Schofield doesn’t top the list.

However, when it comes to raw talent and production combined with leadership skills, very few people can replace Schofield. He was the overall leader of the team last year, and he’s one of the most versatile players in the history of the school. Schofield played big at 6’6″ 241 pound, averaging over six rebounds a game, two assists a game and 16.5 points a game.

But his versatility showed by leading the team in three-point shooting, hitting 41.8 of his shots from beyond the arc and averaging two three-pointers a game. This is all why the Washington Wizards drafted him, and it’s why he’s a huge loss for the Vols. Very few players provided more value to the growth of the program under Rick Barnes. Schofield is one of the school’s greatest.