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Tennessee basketball: Ranking all nine returning players for 2022-23

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) and Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) smile after James made a three-pointer during a basketball game between Tennessee and Texas A&M held at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.Kns Vols Texas A M Hoops Bp
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) and Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) smile after James made a three-pointer during a basketball game between Tennessee and Texas A&M held at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.Kns Vols Texas A M Hoops Bp /
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Feb 9, 2022; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi (25) handles the ball against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2022; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi (25) handles the ball against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Santiago Vescovi. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 534. Shooting guard. Senior. 1. player

6’3″ 191 pounds

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Although Josiah-Jordan James is Tennessee basketball’s most versatile player, Santiago Vescovi is their best player and their most efficient. Like James, Vescovi opted out of the NBA Draft to come back for his senior season. These two both occupy similar positions when James is in the backcourt, so watch out for them playing together again.

Last year, Vescovi started every game and averaged over 13 points. He shot 40.3 percent from three and 79.3 percent from the free throw line, easily becoming the Vols’ most efficient scorer overall. That’s likely going to be the case again this year with more experience developing under Rick Barnes, so he has superstar promise.

Before moving over to the two, Vescovi also saw action at point guard, and he has averaged over three assists and one steal a game every year at UT. As a result, he could also be a guy to spell Zeigler if needed, so it’s not like he doesn’t bring any versatility on his own.

Ranking every Vol basketball newcomer for 2022-23. dark. Next

A huge improvement in Vescovi’s game has been the reduction in turnovers, which went from three and a half in 2019-2020 to one and a half in 2021-2022. If he can drop that again, he’ll be an unstoppable guard for Tennessee basketball. Given his scoring, he’s already their most valuable returner, and he’ll do a lot for the Vols again.

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