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Tennessee basketball 2020-2021 preview: Backcourt

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) and Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (5) celebrate after defeating South Carolina 56-55 at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.Kns Vols South Carolina
Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) and Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (5) celebrate after defeating South Carolina 56-55 at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.Kns Vols South Carolina /
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Tennessee guard Victor Bailey Jr. (12) gives an interview during Tennessee mens basketball media day inside Pratt Pavilion in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, October 11, 2019.Kns Vols Media Day
Tennessee guard Victor Bailey Jr. (12) gives an interview during Tennessee mens basketball media day inside Pratt Pavilion in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, October 11, 2019.Kns Vols Media Day /

Returning talent

Santiago Vescovi; 6’3″ 188 pounds; Sophomore; Montevideo, Uruguay

Once Lamonte Turner had to prematurely end his season last year, Santiago Vescovi, a midseason enrollee from the NBA Global Academy Canberra, Australia, stepped in as a starting point guard. Vescovi started 19 games and averaged 10.7 points and over three and a half assists a game while shooting 36 percent from three. Another year of experience could work wonders for him.

Josiah-Jordan James; 6’6″ 207 pounds; Sophomore; Charleston, S.C.

A five-star combo guard out of Porter-Gaud School in South Carolina, Josiah-Jordan James battled injuries last year. Still, he was a defensive specialist when healthy and averaged seven and a half points, three assists and five and a half rebounds while shooting 36.7 percent from three. Fully healthy, he could be the most complete player on this team.

Victor Bailey Jr.; 6’4″ 179 pounds; Redshirt junior; Austin, Texas

While Santiago Vescovi is the favorite to start, Victor Bailey Jr. transitioned to point guard last year after transferring from the Oregon Ducks. He sat out last year and took a transfer redshirt, but the product of McNeil High School in Texas shot nearly 40 percent from three in 2018-2019 and averaged seven and a half points. As a result, watch out for how dangerous he could be.

Davonte Gaines; 6’7″ 181 pounds; Sophomore; Buffalo, N.Y.

Due to injuries, Davonte Gaines actually started a game for Tennessee basketball last year. The product of Health Sciences Charter School in New York and Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia was supposed to be a project, though, and after a rough shooting freshman campaign, where he shot 15.8 percent from three, he’ll need to up his efficiency this year.

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