2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

[VolGee4]

I really like Estrella, but he has not been consistent. I know it is partly due to injuries, but he also has not produced consistently against good competition. He has a super high ceiling. We needed a consistent scoring threat inside this year and he didn't give us that on a regular basis.

He hasn’t played much and still developing. He cane through in some key moments.

 

[i2amavol]

Overvaluing the F out of Cade, under valuing Dowd...

Cade's best scoring game was 15 points against South Carolina (12-20) last year his best rebounding night was 9 against Austin Peay and North Florida...

Dowd this year scored 25 points and 19 rebounds at San Diego State (22-11) based on their schedule that was their toughest regular season opponent. Against the USC Trojans (2nd toughest opponent) he scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Cade hasn't put up anywhere close to these numbers against any competition.

Agree to disagree. I saw maybe one impressive bank shot in the whole highlight film, and again, against lower level competition. I didn't see anything but a guy who was always one step behind in the highlights of the Nebraska game.

I hope he is the next Larry Bird.

 

[kong]

Haven’t heard either, when I saw Diabate’s name the thought crossed my mind as a potential fit here, but I’ve yet to hear either.

He’s a 6’6 bully and we all know how barnes feels about that archetype so it’s possible. He doesn’t shoot 3’s well and he’s not a rangy shot blocker so I’d rather roll with Carey and brown in that role personally. He’s also Muslim so I wonder how he would mesh with Barnes’ program

 

[Lankykong]

That seems kinda savage against Boswell based on it being quoted, not sure if it was meant that way (about wanting to be at UT, build on elite eights, etc.)

 

[TheMookieMonster]

If we land Tanner and Juke, I don’t really care who else we land or who leaves.

Lock those two downnnnnn

I haven’t watched much of Wake Forest because they’ve been so mediocre. Is he really that good or is his PPG a side effect of volume shooting on a bad team?

 

[TrapVol]

If we land Tanner and Juke, I don’t really care who else we land or who leaves.

Lock those two downnnnnn

Still got to get at least one really good big (ideally two), but yeah, those two would probably have a bigger impact than anyone else we would get.

 

[VolGee4]

Agree to disagree. Very skilled offensively might be a stretch. He missed a lot of bunny layups this year and he can only really score within 8-10 feet of the basket.

He can shoot the 3 but didn’t shoot it much. I’m telling you that he will be missed. Key buckets in several games, including when Virginia came back. We haven’t had an inside guy to go to when we needed a bucket the last few years, and he provided it. It’s not a stretch at all- he just needs more minutes. I was giddy about him his freshman year. Wonder why a P4 would offer double? They see his value.

 

[Flogballs]

I'm just now seeing it with him. He seems to be a good rebounder, and that's about it. Decent at free throws, but his shooting percentages are not that great. As has been stated, I'm not sure he defense is anything to write home about either.

In the small sample I've seen, he is Phillips with maybe a better 3 point shot, but less defense.

I’d have rather kept JP but here we are. I’m no expert though

 

[Buddy’s Bandit]

Boswell, Estrella, and Phillips did some good things, but I'm not exactly going to lose sleep over those guys leaving unless we seriously can't find guys in the portal just as good, or, more likely, better/healthier than them.

I would think The Deacon has had discussions with each and has determined, for the money, he can do better in the portal or they would not be leaving. I would bet it will only be a couple days after the portal open that the plans will be fully evident.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I haven’t watched much of Wake Forest because they’ve been so mediocre. Is he really that good or is his PPG a side effect of volume shooting on a bad team?

15 attempts per game shooting 44% FG and 33.2% 3PT and 78% FT

Almost exactly the same numbers as Ja'Kobi...only Juke took more FTs

 

[backdoorcutvol]

If what folks are saying is true - that certain folks would pay extra to get the right players - well, this is their chance to put their money where their mouth is, because this would likely get us to the final four and beyond. No need to wait and see who else enters the portal.

Crazy college basketball, now you don’t win on the floor, you win at the bank and it really sucks.

 

[cncchris33]

15 attempts per game shooting 44% FG and 33.2% 3PT and 78% FT

Almost exactly the same numbers as Ja'Kobi...only Juke took more FTs

And he's 6'-7

 

[TrapVol]

nm

 

[MoCo_Vol]

And he's 6'-7

Yep, Juke is a no brainer IMO. We wanted him outta HS and other than Wake got his only OV that year. And in his 2 years at Wake he's gotten better and developed.

FR - 19 mpg, 6.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 42.6% FG, 30.3% 3PT and 59.5% FT
SO - 35 mpg, 21.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 44.4% FG, 33.2% 3PT and 78.3% FT

 

[Lankykong]

Couple more with Henderson likely and one of Care, Brown, and probably Evans is not great.

Essentially Burg and probably two bigs leaving if rumors of Evans cost are real.

I would rather keep Brown and Burg probably than only keep Evans and lose 3 guys. I think we need the continuity. Evans was good but I really like Brown’s potential

 

[Rizzo924]

Boswell and Cade aren’t guys that are playing significant minutes in this final 4. JP very likely isn’t either based off ISU/ Michigan/ HOU/ Illinois games.

If you want to make the final 4 sacrifices will be needed.

Whew! That last sentence could use a well-placed comma!

 

[backdoorcutvol]

Love JPs heart and effort. BUT, a bad foot on a big guy is as delicate as it gets. He's one false step, landing wrong, crap, stepping in a hole in his yard from being out again. Huge risk for that kind of money. Hate it, but it is what it is.

I understand what you’re saying with Estrealla’s history but that’s really possible with any player

 

[TrapVol]

I would rather keep Brown and Burg probably than only keep Evans and lose 3 guys. I think we need the continuity. Evans was good but I really like Brown’s potential

That’s a tough call. Evans and Brown are both guys I really don’t want to lose!

 

[DeepSpringsVol]

That’s a tough call. Evans and Brown are both guys I really don’t want to lose!

I didnt see enough from Evans or Burg to warrant them being key pieces. WhyBrown absolutely needs to be a central part of what we do but those other two I wouldn’t overspend for.

 

[backdoorcutvol]

Hate to see these guys leave, but can't hold it against them. Until rules change (if they change), it's just one year contracts. Having a guy on roster gives you a leg up for next year, but both Barnes and the player have to decide if it works out.

I really hope it doesn't stay like this forever.

Greedy players and boosters that have more$$$$$ than sense. Sports as we once loves is over.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

For what Barnes wants from his bigs...paying Flory, Cyril, or Sylla might be better for team success which is really what staff is going to focus on anyway.

Allowing Cade & JP to hit the portal though...tells me in their 3 years here staff must feel like ceiling has been reached already.

Doubt they think JP has maxed out in his 1st real.season...they just don't see the same risk/reward as others

 

[Dooby15]

He can shoot the 3 but didn’t shoot it much. I’m telling you that he will be missed. Key buckets in several games, including when Virginia came back. We haven’t had an inside guy to go to when we needed a bucket the last few years, and he provided it. It’s not a stretch at all- he just needs more minutes. I was giddy about him his freshman year. Wonder why a P4 would offer double? They see his value.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Doubt they think JP has maxed out in his 1st real.season...they just don't see the same risk/reward as others

You don't pay guys entering their 4th year with your program on a "what if" though. HS talent you don't have 60 games of footage to evaluate from. They have a # they think JP is worth and that's likely not going to change.

 

[walkenvol]

Mostly agree with a slight amendment to point #2. It isn't really us against the field. It's us against us. We set a value on all these guys with a little wiggle room (let's call it 20%). We aren't willing to rise above our own threshold. So, in a sense, it's us against the field if the field is outbidding us, but in reality, it's us setting a limit and sticking to it.

That sounds reasonable for an established market, but we’re in an “NIL gone wild” market. These valuations we determined over the last few weeks may be uncompetitive now. We can say we’re only paying so much for a player, but if there are numerous other programs willing to pay more then we’ve misjudged the overall market, not a particular valuation of an individual player.

 

[TrapVol]

I didnt see enough from Evans or Burg to warrant them being key pieces. WhyBrown absolutely needs to be a central part of what we do but those other two I wouldn’t overspend for.

I respectfully disagree on Evans. Don’t forget, he was only a freshman, and there were a few games we probably don’t win without him stepping up.