Tennessee basketball: Projecting the Vols 2019-2020 two-deep depth chart

Point guard

1. Lamonte Turner

Redshirt senior; 6’2″ 187 pounds; Florence, Ala.

Lamonte Turner has a tall task ahead of him. The last two years, he shifted over to point guard when Jordan Bone went to the bench. But now, with Bone gone, Turner has to be the full-time point guard for Tennessee basketball. He’s the only guy with the necessary experience to start at the position. But he hasn’t proven he can do it on a consistent basis.

As a true combo guard, Turner averaged 11 points and nearly four assists a game while shooting 32 percent from three. And he did that while battling an injury early on last year. But the key for him, now as the main starter at point guard, is that he has to avoid pressing. If he can patiently let things happen, he’ll be elite. What’s clear, though, is this job is his.

2. Jalen Johnson

Redshirt junior; 6’6″ 196 pounds; Durham, N.C.

This is the first spot where the backup is only the backup so we can go two-deep. We’ll name the other guy who will shift over to point guard when Turner is on the bench later on this post, as he’s also starting. But to make this a two-deep depth chart, we have to have Jalen Johnson as the No. 2 guy. He could play point forward or the two-guard, to be fair.

Last year, Johnson only averaged one and a half points in only six minutes of action. But he did go nine-of-20 from three, or 45 percent, and he had more assists, eight, than turnovers, six. So if he takes a major leap, he could be a very effective player with the ball in his hands, and he’s also a decent size.