All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball: Ranking Vols by toughest to replace for 2022-23

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 31, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes speaks with forward John Fulkerson (10) during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee won 84 to 61. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes speaks with forward John Fulkerson (10) during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee won 84 to 61. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 8
Next
Tennessee forward Handje Tamba (32) warming up before the start of the NCAA college basketball against Kentucky in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.Px Uthoops Kentucky
Tennessee forward Handje Tamba (32) warming up before the start of the NCAA college basketball against Kentucky in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.Px Uthoops Kentucky /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 534. Forward. Transfer portal. Handje Tamba. 6

Transferred to Weber State Wildcats

Now we’re talking about post players who truly could have brought a lot to the table for Tennessee basketball. Just like Quinten Diboundje, Handje Tamba was a three-star commitment in the Vols’ 2021 class who hailed from overseas. Now, he did graduate high school in Knoxville, but he lived in The Congo until he was 14, moving out back in 2017.

Given his frame at 6’11” 229 pounds, Tamba brought a necessary level of length to the table. The Vols could have used somebody like him who was more polished in the post when they faced the Michigan Wolverines and their size in the NCAA Tournament earlier this year.

Unlike Diboundje and Brock Jancek, Tamba didn’t play any minutes for the Vols, though. He actually took a redshirt, which may have had a role in him deciding to transfer. However, we know how good Rick Barnes is at developing talent long term, so a guy with Tamba’s length could have been a huge deal for the Vols.

Uros Plavsic staying somewhat offsets this, and Jonas Aidoo is still there, but Plavsic hasn’t taken that next step yet, and the Vols are four years in. As a result, there is a question about the length on the Vols this year, and Tamba is a guy who could have provided that depth. Not playing, though, keeps him down here.

Home/Vols Basketball