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Tennessee basketball: Uros Plavsic denied waiver, won’t play for 2019-2020 Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 23: A Tennessee Volunteers cheerleader runs with a flag as players take the court before the game against the Mercer Bears during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 23, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 23: A Tennessee Volunteers cheerleader runs with a flag as players take the court before the game against the Mercer Bears during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 23, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Less than a week ahead of the season, the NCAA denied clearance for Tennessee basketball transfer Uros Plavsic. He won’t play for the 2019-2020 Volunteers.

In a shocking blow to men’s Tennessee basketball, Vols center Uros Plavsic was denied his eligibility clearance request from the NCAA, initially reported by CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, and WFAN college basketball insider Jon Rothstein on Twitter. The redshirt freshman transfer from the Arizona State Sun Devils will sit out this season and be eligible to play in 2020-2021.

Plavsic, who is originally from Ivanjica, Serbia but went to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, committed to Arizona State in 2018 but took a redshirt on the year after not playing. He was a three-star recruit at 7’0″ 240 pounds.

After transferring in the offseason, he was a big pickup for Tennessee basketball given the attrition the Vols had suffered at the five, which included Kyle Alexander graduating, DJ Burns and Derrick Walker transferring and missing out on transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr., who transferred from the Virginia Tech Hokies from the Florida Gators. Plavsic was supposed to help offset that.

Rick Barnes said consistently that the Vols expected him to be granted the waiver. As a result, the NCAA’s decision to reject his request and the appeal by the university was an unexpected move. The move was confirmed by the university, and athletic Director Phillip Fulmer released a statement, according to UTSports. Here’s what he said.

"“Uros Plavsic was denied clearance to compete with our men’s basketball program this season, and our appeal of that decision also was denied. We are extremely disappointed – quite frankly, stunned – in this outcome, and feel strongly that very compelling facts support clearance for immediate eligibility. We are at a loss as to how this decision aligns with a mission of prioritizing the well-being of student-athletes, and we are struggling to provide an explanation to a deserving young man who stands to lose a year of eligibility. We will stand by Uros and support him in every way possible as we exhaust all options in advocating for his competitive opportunity.”"

With Plavsic out, Tennessee basketball is very limited in the post. They only have one player over 6’9″, and that’s Zach Kent, a redshirt sophomore at 6’11” 235 pounds. The problem with Kent, who was once a three-star recruit, is the fact that he only played two games as a freshman and then missed all of last season due to injury.

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There are only two other options at the five and three other scholarship players who are truly meant to play in the post in general. Two are three-star freshmen. Drew Pember is 6’9″ but he is only 207 pounds. Olivier Nkamhoua weighs 224 pounds and appears to have more skill, but he is only 6’8″, meaning he may be more suited for the four or the three.

That leaves redshirt junior John Fulkerson, who started the Vols’ exhibition game. He started an NCAA Tournament game in 2017-2018 due to Alexander being hurt, and he does have experience at 6’9″ 212 pounds. But he hasn’t proven his ability to start consistently, as he struggled in those NCAA Tournament games. So his development is everything.

Regardless of what Fulkerson does, Barnes is likely to go small this year. Yves Pons, who is the only other scholarship player that could play forward but is more of a wing, will likely play four at 6’6″ 215 pounds. Fulkerson will likely start at the five, and Kent, Pember and Nkamhoua will be in competition to get into the rotation as the backup post player.

Next. Toughest Vols to replace for 2019-2020. dark

The backcourt will be the strength of this team, with returning guards Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden, both of whom averaged double-figures last year, and five-star freshman Josiah-Jordan James. As a result, Tennessee basketball has some talent. But depth and the inside game will be issues now.

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