Tennessee basketball 2019-2020 preview: Vols backcourt

Newcomers

Josiah-Jordan James

Freshman; 6’6″ 208 pounds; Charleston, S.C.

Josiah-Jordan James is the big reason people are not expecting Tennessee basketball to have too much of a drop-off. A five-star combo guard who stands at 6’6″, Rick Barnes brought him in to be able to join Lamonte Turner as the two guys who should be able to run the point guard position. And James provides unique size in doing it as well.

There’s a chance that James plays on the wing as a point forward while Turner plays point guard with Jordan Bowden as the two-guard. That gives the Vols three elite scoring options in the backcourt with two guys who can distribute the ball. And it’s why there is excitement about the Vols’ new identity this year.

Davonte Gaines

Freshman; 6’7″ 178 pounds; Buffalo, N.Y.

At 6’7″, Davonte Gaines is a three-star in the Vols’ 2019 recruiting class. But he’s got some work to do, and it’s likely he’ll be a role player who sees limited action this year. Expect some of what you saw from Jalen Johnson last year.

However, Gaines is clearly a guy Barnes expects to eventually provide some versatility. He was listed as a forward as a recruit but is a guard on the roster, meaning he’ll be a backcourt player. But he could play the wing with his height.

Victor Bailey Jr. (Oregon Ducks transfer, will redshirt this year)

Junior; 6’4″ 186 pounds; Austin, Texas

UT as another elite scoring option in the future with Victor Bailey Jr., who shot 39.8 percent from the three-point line this past year and averaged seven and a half points a game with the Oregon Ducks in just under 19 minutes. But he has to sit out a year. So in 2020-2021, the Vols will have this guy ready to score immediately and help their newcomers.