Tennessee basketball: Josiah-Jordan James testing NBA waters helps Vols

Earlier this week, a b it of panic may have set in for Tennessee basketball fans. Kennedy Chandler has already entered the NBA Draft, and Santiago Vescovi is testing the NBA waters. Well, Josiah-Jordan James has followed suit.

According to the NBA, James was one of many players along with Vescovi to enter the draft while retaining his eligibility. This is something that Rick Barnes said would happen earlier this month, and it appears as if he has encouraged James to do it.

Although that potentially leaves Tennessee basketball without its three key guards from 2021-2022, the fact that it was expected means there’s no reason to panic. When you take it all into account, it’s actually a good thing for the program.

Look, James is not going to be projected any better than a late second rounder. He needs a year fully healthy, which he hasn’t had yet since committing to Rocky Top as a five-star in 2019, to ease concerns. Also, he’ll be told to work on two big things: shot selection in the paint and being more consistent shooting the three.

At 6’6″ 207 pounds, James is able to play the three or the four in college. However, he’ll be a two or a three at the NBA level. He is an elite defender, as he averaged over a steal and over a block a game this past year, and he is now reliable from the foul line, shooting 80 percent last season.

Athleticism is clear when he’s fully healthy, as is his unselfish play. All he has to do is develop consistency shooting the ball, and he’ll be a complete player. Given what he’s done so far, that honestly shouldn’t be too hard to improve on this offseason.

Last year, James shot 32.4 percent from the three-point line. However, he had some red-hot runs where he would make four or five threes in a half and sometimes scored 10 or more straight for Tennessee basketball. Those games proved he can be lethal from outside.

Turning that into a consistent weapon while keeping everything else in tact would make him an All-American caliber player. At the same time, though, he has to make sure he’s a legitimate scoring threat inside the arc too.

For the year, James shot 48.3 percent on two-pointers. That needs to get above 50 percent. He’s improved every year on that front, especially from being 37.1 percent as a freshman. If he can get that above 50 and his three-point shooting above 35 while staying healthy, scouts will be all over him next year.

Taking that into account, testing these NBA waters can only help Tennessee basketball. The combination of him likely being a projected low pick with his potential to see an even larger role next year for the Vols will entice him to come back. All this will do will make clear where he needs to improve.