Tennessee has made the last three Elite Eights under Rick Barnes, but the Vols have been waiting to reach the Final Four, and their quest to build a roster that can achieve that begins today.
With a seemingly whole new roster next season. Barnes will have to assemble a team that fits his system via the portal.
Tennessee is losing leading scorer Ja'Kobi Gilespie, elite defensive big man Felix Okapra, and Amaree Abram to graduation. The Vols also have plenty of players who have entered the portal:
Tennessee men's basketball transfers out
- PF Cade Phillips (Texas A&M)
- PF/C JP Estrella (Michigan)
- SG Clarence Massamba
- SG Bishop Boswell (Maryland)
- PF Jaylen Carey (Missouri)
- SG Amari Evans (Texas)
- PG Ethan Burg *returning home to Israel
With Tennesse losing three players to graduation and seven players to the portal, Rick Barnes has his work cut out to get a roster assembled as soon as possible. Point guard Troy Henderson entered the portal but decided to return to Tennessee.
Check back here often to see who else, if anyone, transfers out from Tennessee.
Tennessee men's basketball transfers in
- SG Tyler Lundblade (Belmont)
- PG Dai Dai Ames (Cal)
- PF/C Miles Rubin (Loyola Chicago)
- CG Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame)
Tennessee currently has one commit, as the Vols have swiftly landed the Missouri Valley Player of the Year winner in Tyler Lunblade. Tennessee has also added two prolific scorers in Dai Dai Ames and Jalen Haralson. Add that with an elite rim-protector, Miles Rubin, and the Vols look to be in great shape. Tennessee still has more holes to fill, but it's been a great start.
Tennessee players who have declared for the 2026 NBA Draft
Tennessee has freshman star Nate Ament, who has not made his decision yet whether he will return or go to the NBA Draft. In a stacked NBA Draft class, Ament is still projected to go in the lottery, but with Ament battling injuries down the stretch, his stock has taken a dip.
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