Tennessee basketball: Ranking Vols five newcomers by potential impact in 2019-2020

Another three-star guard in this year’s recruiting class, Davonte Gaines actually has a ton of potential for Tennessee basketball this year. Despite being listed as a guard, the Buffalo, N.Y. he is 6’7″ 178 pounds. So Gaines is a guy who can immediately contribute on the wing, and he may provide necessary depth there his first year.

Considering the fact that Admiral Schofield played that role so well, there’s clearly an opening. However, Yves Pons has two years in the system and has done everything he can do develop, so that spot will likely go to him. Meanwhile, Jalen Johnson is still in the system, and he has lots of experience as well.

Gaines’s lack of size given his height will be an issue when it comes to playing that position. It’s the opposite of what Schofield had when he arrived on campus, and that’s why we have him at No. 4 on this list right now despite lots of hype behind his skills set.

There’s also the other factor of Barnes potentially going small and playing Lamonte Turner, Jordan Bowden and a third true guard this year in the system. That guard would be another player on this list who arrived on Rocky Top with much more hype than Gaines. So the possibility of a wing not starting combined with what he has to compete with puts him down here.