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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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Link Academy’s Julian Phillips (5) reacts during the GEICO Nationals semifinal between Prolific Prep (Calif.) and Link Academy (Mo.), Friday, April 1, 2022, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.Link Academy defeated Prolific Prep 59-53.GEICO Nationals 2022: Prolific Prep (Calif.) vs. Link Academy (Mo.) semifinal, April 1, 2022
Link Academy’s Julian Phillips (5) reacts during the GEICO Nationals semifinal between Prolific Prep (Calif.) and Link Academy (Mo.), Friday, April 1, 2022, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.Link Academy defeated Prolific Prep 59-53.GEICO Nationals 2022: Prolific Prep (Calif.) vs. Link Academy (Mo.) semifinal, April 1, 2022 /

Freshman. 1. player. 534. Scouting Report. Forward. Julian Phillips. Pick Analysis

The biggest star in Tennessee basketball’s recruiting class, Julian Phillips is a five-star wing who stands at 6’8″ 190 pounds and gives off Kevin Durant vibes.

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Similar to graduate transfers, in college basketball, you don’t take five-stars anymore without expecting them to have an impact immediately. Tennessee basketball added Julian Phillips on the wing to do just that, as they did with Josiah-Jordan James three years ago.

It’s crazy that both will play together, and both ironically hail from South Carolina. Yes, not only are three players from that state, but they all play on the wing. Phillips, who hails from Blythewood, S.C., graduated from Link Academy in Missouri. Now, he’s headed to Rocky Top and playing for a coach who knows how to develop such wings.

The Kevin Durant vibes comes from Rick Barnes coaching Durant with the Texas Longhorns back in 2006-2007, a future MVP and two-time Finals MVP. Phillips is not quite as highly rated as Durant was, but he has a solid amount of length and can pull up from anywhere on the court.

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Given that fact, even with James and Santiago Vescovi returning, Tennessee basketball may want to keep James at the four so they have room for Phillips to start. Maybe they could even move Vescovi to the one. Either way, Phillips’ talent is too rare, and he should fit right in to an experienced roster as a go-to scorer. As a result, he’s definitely the top impact newcomer.

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