Now that the portal has been up and running for a little bit, we can take a step back and assess what Tennessee needs moving forward as we inch towards the finish line. The Vols have done a fantastic job in the Transfer Portal so far, landing three elite scorers in Dai Dai Ames, Tyler Lundblade, and Jalen Haralson. On top of that, Rick Barnes has put Tennessee in a strong spot with Juke Harris and Terrance Hill Jr., who are both high-level scoring threats.
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Tennessee still has a couple of major roster holes to fill, so let’s dive into what Rick Barnes needs to address next in the portal.
1. Elite perimeter defender
While the additions of Ames, Lundblade, and Haralson are all capable offensively, they don’t necessarily provide that alpha defensive presence who can consistently hound ball handlers. After losing Amari Evans and Bishop Boswell, Tennessee hasn’t fully replaced that archetype. With the Vols already having plenty of scoring options, they can afford to prioritize more defensive versatility moving forward.
A wing with a long wingspan and ability to play a high level defensvie game would go a long way for this roster for the Final Four push in 2027. Tennessee has always been built on toughness and physicality, so bringing in a player who will dive for loose balls and be a defensive pest is essential in a Rick Barnes system.
2. Rim-running big man
At the moment, Tennessee only has two forwards on the roster in DeWayne Brown II and Miles Rubin. Both are good rebounders and solid interior defenders, but the Vols still need more depth here. Ideally, they’d add a true center who can defend, rebound, and set strong screens. I'm not saying they need prime Shaq, but a 7-footer who has a rim-running mentality would be a major boost to the current roster. Tennesse probably needs two players who can fill in this department, as they have lost Jaylen Carey and JP Estrella to the portal, and Felix Okpara is out of eligibility.
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