Rick Barnes has done it again this weekend. After losing half the roster to the Transfer Portal, the Vols have been landing some serious talent with Blemont guard Tyler Lundblade and Cal guard Dai Dai Ames.
Rick Barnes strikes again as Tennessee lands stud Transfer Portal PG
Simply put, the momentum doesn’t stop there. Tennessee has picked up another commitment, this time from 6-foot-10, 220-pound frontcourt standout Miles Rubin. Last season at Loyola Chicago, Rubin averaged 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 blocks.
NEWS: Loyola Chicago transfer center Miles Rubin has committed to Tennessee, he told @On3.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 12, 2026
The 6-10 junior averaged 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game this season.https://t.co/AwOcSaTLQs pic.twitter.com/sD2TY0iLEC
It's hard to ignore that Rubin was in the 97th percentile of block rate, making him an interior demon that can fill right in for Felix Okpara next year.
Combine that with his 58.5% field goal percentage, and Tennesse got a really good player who can help out the Vols tremendously next season.
Miles Rubin is exactly what Tennessee needed
The encouraging part about this ad is that Tennessee isn't going away from its tough defense and relentless rebounding attitude. Based on the first two pick-ups, many people were worried that Rick Barnes was focusing too much on offense, but this debunks that idea.
Rubin is a defensive-minded big man who can still get you points off second chances. He’s not a shooter, but that’s perfectly fine. Tennessee doesn’t need him to be. His job is simple: protect the rim, rebound, and clean up around the basket. Think Felix Okpara with a little less athleticism, but better finishing.
The one concerning thing about Rubin is his free-throw percentage. Last season, Rubin was a 54.3% free throw shooter and was, as we know, the Vols had a horrendous time making free throws last seaosn ranking in the bottom third of the NCAA. Is this a dealbreaker? Absolutely not, but it's more of an annoyance as the Vols consistently failed to cover on free attempts all last season.
All things considered, Rick Baernes did a great job identifying another guy who can fit the scheme and a needed player on the roster. The frontcourt still needs some more bodies, but this is a really good start for Tennessee.