All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball: Five ways Vols can offset Jaden Springer turning pro

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee's Jaden Springer (11) with a three-point attempt during an NCAA men's basketball game against St. Joseph’s in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, December 21, 2020.Kns Vols Stjosephs
Tennessee's Jaden Springer (11) with a three-point attempt during an NCAA men's basketball game against St. Joseph’s in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, December 21, 2020.Kns Vols Stjosephs /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – FEBRUARY 26: Josiah-Jordan James #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers directs the offense during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 26, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 86-69. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – FEBRUARY 26: Josiah-Jordan James #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers directs the offense during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 26, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 86-69. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3. Josiah-Jordan James develops more offensively.

Hey, based on what he said after Tennessee basketball’s loss to the Oregon State Beavers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Josiah-Jordan James will be back for his junior year. A five-star in the Vols’ 2019 class, James battled injury his first year and was more of a glue guy and defensive specialist this past year.

Those are valuable skills when you’re playing for Rick Barnes. However, at 6’6″ 207 pounds, he could take a huge leap forward if he develops more of an aggressive offensive game this offseason. Barnes would then have another major option.

James is averaging just over seven and a half points over the past two years, but he is hitting roughly one three-pointer a game on three attempts, shooting 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. His midrange game is a problem, though, as he is only 38 percent from the field in general for his career. That’s where he needs to make his biggest improvement.

If James can dramatically up his midrange and somewhat improve his three-point shooting and free throw shooting, the latter of which is 77.8 for his career, he could be one of the most complete players in the game. Barnes has the ability to develop guys like him, so watch out too.

Home/Vols Basketball