It turns out Rick Barnes isn't done working his magic in the transfer portal just yet? While a lot of Tennessee basketball fans thought he was done, Barnes is making a move to land the best transfer portal player available right now.
That'd be USC guard Desmond Claude, who is yet to decide where he'll be making the move to. According to reporter Jeff Goodman, the Vols were in contact with the 6-6, 200-pounder this week. Oregon has also reached out to enter the race. Would this move make sense for the Vols?
Tennessee and Oregon both reached out to USC transfer Desmond Claude today, source told @thefieldof68.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 28, 2025
Claude also looking at Alabama and Gonzaga. SMU has also been in the mix.
Tennessee has been in contact with USC guard transfer Desmond Claude
Claude, considered the best player available, was a late entry into the portal, announcing his intentions to transfer on April 22. As you might have been able to guess, plenty of teams have been working to sign him. The list includes Tennessee, Oregon, Alabama and others.
It feels like a bit of a surprise that Barnes is eyeing another point guard, especially with Ja'Kobi Gillespie signing earlier this offseason. Not only that, but fan favorite Zakai Zeigler is currently taking legal action to try and return for a fifth season in Knoxville.
With that said, Claude is a versatile player and he'd have the ability to play the 2-guard spot as well for Barnes. With his 6-6, 200-pound frame, he's got great size and Claude can also knock down shots from all over the hardwood. That's got to be a big reason why the Vols would be open to making something work here.
Last season for the Trojans, the veteran guard was fantastic with the ball in his hands, scoring 15.8 points per game, while adding 4.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds. A former 4-star signee with Xavier, Claude joined USC ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. He's now looking to join his third program at the college level. Will it end up being Tennessee? We could find out soon.