Tennessee basketball: Vols most likely to leave early in 2021

Size: 6’7″ 181 pounds; Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.

Similar to Drew Pember, Davonte Gaines is another player who was recruited as a long-term project. An product of Health Sciences Charter School in upstate New York who then gained playing experience in Virginia, Gaines has lots of versatility. Attending Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. definitely helped with that.

However, there’s a problem for Gaines. The Vols have three guards who were five-star recruits, and he’s not going to play point guard. There may be room for him on the wing, which is what puts him ahead of Pember, but he certainly won’t start, and if Rick Barnes decides to play big on that front, he’ll be even further buried in the depth chart.

Again, like Pember, Gaines is a four-year guy for Barnes. He’ll have his chance to shine, but he’s another developmental guy. Last year, he averaged over 10 minutes a game and shot an abysmal 15.8 percent from the three-point line. Now, his midrange was solid, and he averaged two and a half points and nearly two rebounds a game.

That’s obviously not nearly enough production, though, to make it to the next level, and his production is not likely to improve much this year. The big thing for him this season should be working on his outside shot so he can be much more efficient at scoring the ball. Then he’ll eventually have his chance when those five-stars leave.