Tennessee basketball interested in Yale transfer Paul Atkinson Jr., recruiting analyst says
Rick Barnes’ Tennessee basketball Volunteers are interested in the graduate transfer forward.
A big reason for the excitement behind Tennessee basketball this year is the addition of graduate transfer forward E.J. Anosike. It looks like Rick Barnes is trying to get the Vols in the mix for another such player next year.
Recruiting analyst Jake Weingarten of Stock Risers, a college basketball recruiting website, reports that the Vols are among many teams pursuing Yale Bulldogs graduate transfer forward Paul Atkinson Jr., who tweeted on Tuesday that he would enter the transfer portal in the spring. Atkinson stands at 6’10” 220 pounds and has been a three-year starter at Yale.
In addition to Tennessee basketball, the Stanford Cardinal, Kansas Jayhawks, Boston College Eagles, Texas A&M Aggies, Virginia Tech Hokies, N.C. State Wolfpack and Xavier Muskateers are reportedly pursuing Atkinson. Weingarten tweeted the list of schools out on Twitter.
The newest schools to show interest in Yale graduate transfer Paul Atkinson Jr. include Tennessee, Stanford, Kansas, Boston College, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, NC State, and Xavier, he tells @Stockrisers.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) October 21, 2020
Co-player of the year in the Ivy. 17.6 points and 7.3 boards per game.
A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., Atkinson had a breakout year in 2019-2020, averaging 17.6 points, nearly seven and a half rebounds and one and a half assists. He also shot 63 percent from the field.
With three seniors in their front court this year, the Vols clearly need immediate help to replace what they could be set to lose, although the extra year of eligibility changes things up a bit. Either way, Atkinson would be a big addition.
The seniors on Rocky Top this year are John Fulkerson, UT’s returning leading scorer, Anosike, who averaged a double-double last year with the Sacret Hear Pioneers, and Yves Pons, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year. All are expected to play a major role.
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None of those players, however, bring the size that Atkinson would bring. If Tennessee basketball could lure him to Rocky Top, Barnes would add a very skilled player who gives the Vols a major advantage in 2020-2021. Don’t underestimate his ability to do it either given what he has been doing on the trail the past few years.