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Tennessee basketball 2022-23 preview: Vols’ frontcourt

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee forward Uros Plavsic (33) gives an interview during Tennessee Volunteers basketball media day at Pratt Pavilion in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.Kns Vols Hoops Mediaday
Tennessee forward Uros Plavsic (33) gives an interview during Tennessee Volunteers basketball media day at Pratt Pavilion in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.Kns Vols Hoops Mediaday /
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Tennessee forward Julian Phillips (2) during the Vols’ first basketball practice at Pratt Pavilion on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.Kns Vols Basketball Practice Bp
Tennessee forward Julian Phillips (2) during the Vols’ first basketball practice at Pratt Pavilion on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.Kns Vols Basketball Practice Bp /

Freshmen added

Julian Phillips

  • 6’8″ 198 pouynds
  • Blythewood, S.C.
  • Link Academy (Missouri)

We’re kind of mixing things up here on the wing, as Julian Phillips is listed at forward, and Josiah-Jordan James is listed at guard. However, that’s how the official roster lists them, and Phillips is two inches taller. As a result, if Rick Barnes does want to go small, Phillips will play the four. Both he and James will start.

Like James, Phillips is a five-star versatile wing out of South Carolina. He brings elite scoring to the table and should help Tennessee basketball offset some of its losses immediately. Barnes can run him at multiple positions, but the standout story is the fact that the Vols were able to land him. He’s projected to be an immediate star.

Tobe Awaka

  • 6’8″ 250 pounds
  • Hyde Park, N.Y.
  • Cardinal Hayes High School

A three-star in the 2023 class who reclassified for 2022, Tobe Awaka is a true power forward. He brings the width that’s typical of an old-school post player Barnes would have loved. There is still a market for that type of player, and Awaka may end up bringing a lot to the table.

This year, though, Awaka seems more like a depth addition, as he needs to take some time to develop. That’s fine, as he can help if there are any injuries, but there doesn’t appear to be room for him to see the court much. He is a guy who will be a force for the future.

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