Tennessee basketball held a scrimmage at Food City Center on Saturday, ahead of the Tennessee football game against Arkansas, offering Vols fans a day full of Vols sports. Rocky Top Insider's Ryan Schumpert provided some unofficial stats from the game, sharing that some of the new faces in town were showing out.
Unofficial stats from @Vol_Hoops scrimmage ⬇️
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) October 11, 2025
Ja'Kobi Gillespie: 34 points, 8-12 FG, 6-9 3PT, 8-10 FT
JP Estrella: 28 points, 12-14 FG, 4-6 FT
Nate Ament: 18 points, 6-12 FG, 2-6 3 PT, 4-8 FT
Troy Henderson: 14 points, 4-10 FG, 4-9 3PT, 2-2 FT
Felix Okpara: 12 points, 6-7 FG
The intrasquad scrimmage offered Vols fans their first look at what Rick Barnes and the Vols could offer when the season tips off later this month.
Tennessee will look a lot different this year after graduating six players last season. Returning forward JP Estrella showed out as the top returning player with 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting, and 4-for-6 at the free-throw stripe.
The new faces, however, were making plays throughout the scrimmage. Maryland transfer guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie led the game in scoring with 34 points on 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point range.
Gillespie's addition to the transfer portal brought a lot of excitement, and it looks like he's going to continue building the hype as we get closer to the season with these types of numbers.
If the Vols can have another elite playmaker in Gillespie, the Vols could be a dangerous team again this year as Barnes goes for another SEC Championship and the long-eluding trip to the Final Four.
Freshman Nate Ament scored 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, and Troy Henderson scored 14 points, while shooting 4-for-9 from three-point range.
It might take some time for the young Ament to settle in at the college level, but it's clear he's been putting in the work since arriving on Rocky Top. Jonathan Givony reported earlier this week that Ament is up nearly 20 pounds since April, now weighing 207 pounds.
You can check out the full stats here as Schumpert lays out how every player performed throughout the two 20-minute periods.
Tennessee's first preseason exhibition will take place in just 15 days when the Vols welcome the Duke Blue Devils to Rocky Top. The Sunday, October 26 game is set to take place at 7:00 PM ET at Food City Center.