When the Tennessee Vols tried to land Oklahoma guard transfer Duke Miles earlier this offseason, he said thanks, but no thanks. Miles ended up signing with Texas A&M and everyone thought that his recruitment was shut down and over with.
In a new twist, it turns out Miles won't be suiting up for Texas A&M after all, as he was officially released from his NLI with the SEC side late last week. Now that Miles is once again free to put the pen to paper with anyone he wants, there are several teams working to land him.
According to reporter Tobias Bass, Tennessee and Rick Barnes have wasted no time in contacting the guard. The Vols aren't the only ones, but it sure is telling that they've contacted the youngster right after he made the decision to open things back up:
Since being released from his NLI from Texas A&M, Duke Miles has heard from the following schools, he tells @TheAthleticCBB
— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) May 6, 2025
Georgetown (visit 5/7-5/8)
Virginia
Tennessee
USC
Baylor
Iowa
Gonzaga
Vanderbilt
Arizona State
Saint Mary’s
West Virginia
He averaged 9.4 points,… pic.twitter.com/B1XeHK6rXv
Tennessee is once again recruiting Oklahoma guard transfer Duke Miles
Per Bass, Georgetown, Virginia, USC, Baylor, Iowa and many others are targeting the 6-2, 190-pounder. Last campaign for the Sooners, Miles averaged 9.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. The senior would instantly provide his new team with a ton of experience.
This is surely a reason Barnes is so interested in going after him again for a second time. The Vols have been busy going after transfer portal recruits. Thus far, they've been able to land Jalen Carey, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Amaree Abram.
There's also a loaded 2025 signing class from the high school ranks on the way to the team for next season, of course highlighted by 5-star forward Nate Ament. Yes, some exciting pieces will be taking the hardwood, but Barnes still needs to put the finishing touches on the roster.
The hope was that guard Rodney Rice would join the program, but he opted for a major payday from USC instead. That was a bummer, but Barnes can continue to make people forget all about that if the second time proves to be the charm with Miles. Getting him on campus for a visit soon will be crucial, as other squads are surely racing to do the same.