Tennessee basketball: Is Kennedy Chandler Vols’ greatest one-and-done ever?
Earlier this week, Tennessee basketball guard Kennedy Chandler made it official that he is entering the NBA Draft. He revealed the news on Instagram, and he has hired an agent, so this isn’t just testing the draft waters, which is what Santiago Vescovi is doing.
Chandler is the fifth one-and-done in UT history. He had the most successful season of any previous one-and-done, but where does that rank him among the other players who qualify for the list? Well, it’s worth ranking them here.
In order to make the list, a player has to have played for the Vols for only one year. That has to have been their only season playing college ball, and they have to have entered the NBA Draft as well. Taking all of those things into account, here is a ranking of Tennessee basketball’s five one-and-dones in school history.
Scouting Report. Center. 5. Pick Analysis. 1950-1951. Doug Atkins. player. 534
1953 NBA Draft
- Minneapolis Lakers
- Round 17
- Pick 117
Yes, based on the qualifications, Doug Atkins technically counts. The Tennessee football legend who led the Vols to back to back national titles under Robert Neyland in 1950 and 1951 while also becoming an NFL Hall-of-Fame defensive end also played one year of college basketball. He was selected in the NBA Draft two years later.
However, Atkins definitely doesn’t fit the skill level of your typical one-and-done (that obviously wasn’t a thing back then), and his basketball success doesn’t touch his football success. Although he averaged nearly 10 points his one year with the Vols, he shot just 27.3 percent from the field and 65 percent from the free throw line.
Meanwhile, Tennessee basketball went 10-13 that year. It was Emmett Lowery’s first losing season as a head coach on Rocky Top after four years and one of only three losing seasons he had in 12 years there. Since Atkins never actually played in the NBA either despite being drafted, it’s safe to say he’s last on this list.