The Vols still have some work to do in the transfer portal. Rick Barnes has lost a number of players and, so far, has only brought in a talented guard, Tyler Lundblade, from Belmont. The good news is that the staff is working hard on meeting with potential players, and they have been doing their due diligence. Let's take a look at two players who could commit to the Vols.
Terrance Hill Jr., PG (VCU)
With Tennessee needing a starting guard, Hill emerges as an ideal fit. He projects as a potential replacement for Ja’Kobi Gillespie, bringing proven production after averaging 15.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while leading VCU to the NCAA Tournament. While not the best passer, Hill demonstrates an excellent job taking care of the ball, only turning it over 1.1 times a game.
Hill is solid defensively too, so adding him wouldn’t hurt Tennessee on that side of the ball. Put him next to Tyler Lundblade, and the Vols suddenly have some much-needed scoring.
Tennessee has made contact with him, and he would be a bold addition to the Vols. There is a lot of competition for Hill, but with a good offer, Tennessee can get this done.
Dai Dai Ames, PG (Cal)
247Sports has Ames ranked as the No. 49 player in the Transfer Portal, and he will be visiting Knoxville this weekend, which is a huge development for Barnes. I really like the game that Ames plays with, as he put up a really good stat line for Cal last season, averaging 16.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. He's a smaller guard at 6-foot-2, but he's a certified bucket, being able to score at all three levels. Ames can shoot from deep exceptionally well, as he posted a 38% three-point field goal percentage in 2025- 26. He plays with an edge that Rick Barnes will love.
Ames has consistently gotten better in his three years of college, and even though he still needs to adjust to running an offense like Tennessee’s, he’d be a really solid pickup. It’s easy to see why Vols fans would be excited about him in orange and white.