It’s been a huge offseason for Rick Barnes and the Vols, but there’s still one missing piece. The roster is nearly complete, but Juke Harris out of Wake Forest is still firmly on the radar. The former Tennessee target out of high school averaged an amazing 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as a sophomore. The Vols are trying to fight off defending national champions Michigan, but also the NBA Draft. In light of this, Rick Barnes has put things into his own hands.
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The Big Orange Caravan event is going on this week, and Barnes showed up late because he was out on the recruiting trail, meeting with Juke Harris. Athletic director Danny White said, “He (Barnes) is out recruiting. He is building a roster.”
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes visited Wake Forest transfer wing Juke Harris in California on Wednesday, first reported by @ByMikeWilson 🍊
— FOX Sports Knoxville (@FOXSportsKnox) April 30, 2026
Tennessee AD Danny White said that coach Barnes was “out recruiting” when asked why Barnes was running late to the Big Orange Caravan in… pic.twitter.com/vsqrMXk4IS
Rick Barnes out recruiting Juke Harris
I love that Rick Barnes is still pushing to bring Juke Harris to Tennessee. The NBA is obviously appealing, but at Tennessee, he could potentially make more than what he’s projected to earn as a late first- or early second-round pick. It’s not all about money, but it certainly helps. Michigan is a good team, too, but at Tennessee, he can be a part of a legacy.
Plus, if he were to come to Knoxville, he would make the already great Vols a serious title favorite. Tennessee would likely be in the top three or four teams in the Vegas odds, cementing themselves as a team that can make the Final Four in Detroit next spring, something Tennessee has never done.
Juke Harris has a real chance to be part of history at Tennessee. He could help bring the program its first national championship, and you know Rick Barnes is selling that point very hard. If he wins one, he’ll be remembered forever in Knoxville. Sure, the NBA is great, but it's nothing like going out and competing for a national title. He will have plenty of time to win an NBA championship, but nothing compares to playing in a football stadium in front of 70,000 fans.
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