Ja'Kobi Gillespie started his collegiate career with the Belmont Bruins, where he spent two years with the program in Nashville, TN.
Then, after his sophomore season, he transferred to Maryland and spent a season in the Big Ten with the Terrapins. After that, Gillesphie entered the transfer portal once again and brought his talents back to his home state, deciding to close out his college career with the Tennessee Volunteers.
This season, his final one at the collegiate level, was truly a homecoming for Gillespie, who grew up in Greeneville, TN, just over an hour from the Vols' home in Knoxville.
When Tennessee's season ended in the Elite Eight, Gillespie made it readily apparent just how much that homecoming meant to him, and how grateful he is to head coach Rick Barnes because of it.
"I'm blessed to have the career I did, I enjoyed every year, and I'm forever grateful to Coach Barnes for bringing me back home and allowing me to be the point guard of a great team," Gillespie said in the postgame press conference. "Forever grateful for that."
Ja'Kobi Gillespie is an in-state Tennessee hero
While the season didn't end the way that the Volunteers had hoped, Gillespie undeniably had an incredible year, averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game.
He saw career highs in scoring and assists as he played in front of his home-state crowd, once again, and helped lead the Vols to their 25-12 overall record, fourth-place finish in the SEC standings, and appearance in the Elite Eight.
"I'm forever grateful for Coach Barnes." 🧡
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 29, 2026
Ja'Kobi Gillespie reflects on his year at Tennesse with gratitude 🙏 pic.twitter.com/fjMuh48o4W
While Tennessee teammate Nate Ament may be the highest projected pick for the Volunteers in the 2026 NBA Draft, it wouldn't come as a big surprise if Gillespie heard his name called out in the second round or even signed a deal as an undrafted free agent.
Over four years of college basketball, three of which he spent in the state of Tennessee, Gillespie recorded 1,945 points, 587 assists, 366 rebounds, 252 steals, and even 31 blocks while appearing in 130 games, 105 of which he started.