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Tennessee basketball: Ranking every Vols newcomer for 2022-23

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 12, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during the second half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view during the second half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite losing eight players, Tennessee basketball picked up seven newcomers. Rick Barnes did what he did after last year and managed to add quite a bit of elite talent. He used the transfer portal effectively, but what stands out the most is his success on the recruiting trail for the Vol, scoring a third straight top 15 class.

Although the new additions didn’t specifically address some of the Vols’ needs, they still create a deep team that allows Barnes lots of flexibility. His focus was mostly on the backcourt, but a reclassification allows him more help down low now as well.

Looking at the players in the 2022 class, at least three of them have the potential to start, and one of them is almost certain to start. Given how much talent returned, that’s pretty impressive. Let’s break down what each of them brings to the table this year. Here is our ranking of Tennessee basketball’s eight newcomers by potential impact.

The Tennessee basketball Volunteers have added a graduate transfer, a junior college transfer and six freshmen.

CPA’s Evan Shiflet (33) bolts past Friendship’s Cole Kring (10) during the third quarter of the Division II-A Middle Region Quarterfinal game at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021.Cpa Fcs Bbb 022021 An 017
CPA’s Evan Shiflet (33) bolts past Friendship’s Cole Kring (10) during the third quarter of the Division II-A Middle Region Quarterfinal game at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021.Cpa Fcs Bbb 022021 An 017 /

Guard. Evan Shiflet. player. 534. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Freshman. 8

At 6’2″ 191 pounds, Evan Shiflet is a walk-on who will be a reserve combo guard for Tennessee basketball.

There was no news story of Evan Shiflet committing to the Vols, but he’s listed on the 2022-2023 roster. As a result, it’s pretty clear he joined Rocky Top as a walk-on. That fact alone will keep him down here as one of the least likely newcomers to have an impact on the team this year, but even more factors are working against him.

For starters, thanks to other additions, the Vols are pretty deep at combo guard. They aren’t fully set in the backcourt, but they are with guys who operate the one or the two, and that’s what Shiflet is. Beyond that, though, he played 20 games last year with a torn meniscus.

Hailing from Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, the Davidson County, Tenn., prospect is likely to need time to heal in addition to being a walk-on and playing at a loaded position. As a result, if he is ever going to have an impact for Tennessee basketball, it would be a good idea to take a redshirt this year.

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