Tennessee is coming off back-to-back trips to the Elite 8 and will need to retool its roster to get back there next year and possibly make the Final Four for the first time in program history.
The Vols are losing Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack, Igor Milicic Jr, and Darlinstone Dubar to graduation and will have to replace their production through the transfer portal.
According to Sam Kayser, Tennessee has already contacted three players in the portal and shown interest in bringing them to Rocky Top.
Jalen Jackson, a Purdue Fort Wayne transfer, is the first portal player who could help Tennessee make its first Final Four in program history.
Jackson averaged 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game this season as he led Purdue Fort Wayne to a 19-13 record and fifth place in the Horizon League.
Tennessee has contacted Jackson about transferring to Rocky Top, according to Sam Kayser. However, it won't be easy bringing Jackson to Knoxville with a dozen top programs competing for his commitment.
Tennessee joins Michigan, Notre Dame, Clemson, Texas Tech, Memphis, Iowa, Butler, and many more competing for Jackson.
The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native has one year of eligibility remaining but could be a valuable piece of Tennessee's rebuilt backcourt next season.
The next transfer who could help the Vols' backcourt is Maryland transfer point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie. He also has several suitors as he looks for a new program.
Maryland head coach Kevin Willard announced he was leaving for Villanova, so the Terrapins' star guard entered the portal looking for a new home.
The Greeneville, Tennessee, native could return home after averaging 14,7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game this season. He led Maryland to a 27-9 record and a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee could quickly gear up for another deep NCAA Tournament run if the Vols could bring Gillespie with another premier shooter like Jackson or Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely.
McKneely is visiting Tennessee on Tuesday as the Vols begin the process of getting transfer portal players on campus.
The Poca, West Virginia guard averaged 14.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. Add that to being the best three-point shooter in the ACC with a 42.1% three-point shooting percentage last season, and he should be one of Tennessee's top targets.
While it might be ideal that Tennessee signs McKneely, Gillespie, and Jackson, it will be a win if the Vols can get two out of three.
Tennessee is returning Bishop Boswell in the backcourt next season but will need to add additional depth pieces through the portal with only two recruits signed out of high school.