2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

[omghulkhands]

Might want to let go of the tanner fantasy

But I don’t want to

 

[vol9799]

.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Never mentioned all of them lmao. How about Tanner and Juke? or is that too much to hope for?

I think that would be an absolute best case scenario to get 2 of the top 5 likely portal players, to me 1 seems like a better expectation to have.

 

[CamVol8]

Might want to let go of the tanner fantasy

Why’s it a fantasy now?

 

[Spring Hill Jay]

Do we think burg is staying?

 

[i2amavol]

Yeah….like buddy said above, it’s probably a pipe dream.

Very good lineup. Not sure why BTO’s whiny ass called me out when there’s about 10 other people he could’ve called out crying over Ames.

Hang in there guys. We’re gonna need you both down the stretch!

 

[Vols410]

I mean it’s a good theoretically squad, but doesn’t scream top 5 team or super team as people were suggesting they were going to help Barnes put together. Probably a top 10 team on paper.

That’s easily a final four favorite lineup. Not gonna happen, but if it did it’s preseason top 5.

 

[hard in the paint]

Why’s it a fantasy now?

The only people that are saying it's a real hope are a couple of message board people. VQ has said nothing real about it. Trilly has been asked about it a lot and always says "haven't heard anything." And he hears everything. Maybe it materializes into something, but every indication outside of a couple of message board posters is that there's nothing going on there right now.

 

[joevols89]

That’s easily a final four favorite lineup. Not gonna happen, but if it did it’s preseason top 5.

I think the Knecht team is better than that one on paper.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Yeah... my "ideal" situation

You land at least 1 top 10-15 portal target so far Diop, Juke, Johnson, Cyril are all top 15 names we've came up with interest in (maybe others I missed too). Tanner is obviously a top 10 target if he enters.

Then if you land another 16-50 ranked portal player you're feeling pretty good. Hill Jr, Hines, Burton, Evans Jr, Wilkins, Tiller all in that zone.

So from an expectations standpoint...1 top 15 guys and then 1 top 50 guy and then any additional top 100 or so players = gravy

Lundblade is 65th right now
Rubin is 73rd right now
Dai Dai is 81st right now

2025 portal season Michigan did this...

Yaxel - 1st rated
Morez - 40th rated
Mara - 50th rated
Cadeau - 64th rated

 

[Ghost of Archvol]

lol!

 

[Ghost of Archvol]

sheesh...

portal season's too stressful to not laugh every now and then. Wasn't trying to be a jerk, or whatever it is you called me.

i thought it was hilarious.

 

[tev.sm]

This obviously isn’t everyone, but here’s my compiled list, I’m sure there’s varying levels of interest on these guys, but it’s a starting point


POINT GUARD:
Preston Edmead 6’1” 170lbs FR 33.9mpg 16.1ppg 4.4apg

Colby Garland 6’0” 190lbs JR 35.1mpg 20.3ppg 4.6apg

Markus Burton 6’0” 190lbs JR 30.1mpg 18.5ppg 3.7apg

Malik Mack 6’2” 175lbs JR 32.3mpg 13.6ppg 4.1apg

Lazarek Houston 6’0” 155lbs FR 32.9mpg 20.8ppg 5.1apg

Money Williams 6’4” 211lbs JR 31.2mpg 20.6ppg 4.7apg

Jacob Walker 6’1” 185lbs FR 25.7mpg 11.5ppg 2.5apg

Isaiah Johnson 6’1” 170lbs FR 30.6mpg 16.9ppg 3.0apg

SHOOTING GUARD:
Terrence Hill Jr. 6’3” 180lbs SO 25.0mpg 15.0ppg 57.6%efg

Dai Dai Ames 6’2” 190lbs JR 31.8mpg 16.9ppg 52.7%efg

SMALL FORWARD:
Juke Harris 6’7” 200lbs SO 35.1mpg 21.4ppg 52.7%efg

Isaac Celiscar 6’6” 210lbs SO 31.1mpg 13.2ppg 62.1%efg

FORWARD:
Kwame Evans 6’10” 220lbs JR 30.9mpg 13.3ppg 7.4rpg 1.3bpg

Thomas Dowd 6’8” 225lbs JR 36.0mpg 14.4ppg 10.1rpg 1.3bpg

Bryson Tiller 6’11” 240lbs FR 25.9mpg 7.9ppg 6.1rpg 1.3bpg

Emmitt Adair 6’9” 230lbs FR 25.4mpg 14.6ppg 5.4rpg 0.3bpg

CENTER:
Massamba Diop 7’1” 230lbs FR 29.6mpg 13.6ppg 5.8rpg 2.1bpg

Miles Rubin 6’10” 220lbs JR29.7mpg 11.3ppg 7.1rpg 2.3bpg

Somto Cyril 6’11” 260lbs SO 21.2mpg 9.3ppg 5.4rpg 2.2bpg

Najai Hines 6’10” 265lbs FR 18.0mpg 6.5ppg 5.5rpg 2.2bpg

Devin Williams 6’10” 210lbs SO 23.8mpg 7.5ppg 5.2rpg 2.6bpg

Tim Oboh 6’11” 230lbs SO 21.1mpg 8.5ppg 4.9rpg 1.5bpg

Magoon Gwath 7’0” 212lbs SO 19.0mpg 8.9ppg 4.3rpg 1.5bpg

I imagine there’s not much that can be shared but curious to hear who we are progressing on at the starting PG spot that isn’t Tanner.

Arguably one of the most important transfer portal pickups needs to be at PG.

Edit: Hoping we avoid not putting all our eggs in the Tanner basket if he decides to stay at Vandy or go to NBA draft.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Reached out to Johan Munch. SIAP

 

[hard in the paint]

Yeah... my "ideal" situation

You land at least 1 top 10-15 portal target so far Diop, Juke, Johnson, Cyril are all top 15 names we've came up with interest in (maybe others I missed too). Tanner is obviously a top 10 target if he enters.

Then if you land another 16-50 ranked portal player you're feeling pretty good. Hill Jr, Hines, Burton, Evans Jr, Wilkins, Tiller all in that zone.

So from an expectations standpoint...1 top 15 guys and then 1 top 50 guy and then any additional top 100 or so players = gravy

Lundblade is 65th right now
Rubin is 73rd right now
Dai Dai is 81st right now

2025 portal season Michigan did this...

Yaxel - 1st rated
Morez - 40th rated
Mara - 50th rated
Cadeau - 64th rated

Not saying you are, but I think anyone expecting a Michigan class is kinda delusional. That kind of money does not exist for Tennessee basketball. We can still put together a great team like we have the last three years.

 

[joevols89]

Yeah... my "ideal" situation

You land at least 1 top 10-15 portal target so far Diop, Juke, Johnson, Cyril are all top 15 names we've came up with interest in (maybe others I missed too). Tanner is obviously a top 10 target if he enters.

Then if you land another 16-50 ranked portal player you're feeling pretty good. Hill Jr, Hines, Burton, Evans Jr, Wilkins, Tiller all in that zone.

So from an expectations standpoint...1 top 15 guys and then 1 top 50 guy and then any additional top 100 or so players = gravy

Lundblade is 65th right now
Rubin is 73rd right now
Dai Dai is 81st right now

2025 portal season Michigan did this...

Yaxel - 1st rated
Morez - 40th rated
Mara - 50th rated
Cadeau - 64th rated

I think their bench was huge though as well. I know one was a freshman, highly regarded. Can’t remember what the others were.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Not saying you are, but I think anyone expecting a Michigan class is kinda delusional. That kind of money does not exist for Tennessee basketball. We can still put together a great team like we have the last three years.

You talk real similar to "Hard Data" over on TOS

 

[VolArmy74]

It’s just hard for me to believe we’ll get a “big fish” out of the portal. That’s just not who we’re able to get unless they grew up here like Chaz and Gillespie. They’re too expensive. I think we’ll get a group of B/B+ players

DK was a top 10/15 portal prospect who ended up at the #1 player from the portal in 2023-24. He wasn't from here. Chaz and JG were also top 10/15 according to which service you used, discounting them because they are from Tennessee is a disservice to the staff. So if by saying we don't get big fish from the portal, you actually mean we sign one of what turns out to be one of the top 5 players from the portal every season for 3 years in a row, you'd be correct.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Reached out to Johan Munch. SIAP

Nah, I'm good

 

[Ttucke11]

Lmao not bad? I think you’re probably setting your expectations a touch high if that qualifies as “not bad” to you lol

Is it realistic though? Because that's what you'll need for a F4. It's great, but I also doubt it happens.

 

[Mullins2010]

Not saying you are, but I think anyone expecting a Michigan class is kinda delusional. That kind of money does not exist for Tennessee basketball. We can still put together a great team like we have the last three years.

Michigan and Tennesee were pretty similar NIL spending this past season

 

[PowerT.]

Joe Tipton reports Dai Dai Aimes will visit Xavier on Saturday, after visiting Tennessee today.

He also noted he’s watching Tennessee closest in that recruitment.

- VQ

If Xavier is our biggest comp for him does that mean we want him as a role player and not the focus?

 

[hard in the paint]

You talk real similar to "Hard Data" over on TOS

No idea who that is. I only post here.

 

[volsarelife1]

I for one would be really happy with Aimes. Have a guard who actually would want to try and score. And seems like it could spell some PG play as well. I want multiple guards that are actually capable of dribbling and willing to actually want to score

 

[Ttucke11]

I for one would be really happy with Aimes. Have a guard who actually would want to try and score. And seems like it could spell some PG play as well. I want multiple guards that are actually capable of dribbling and willing to actually want to score

Aimes is phenomenal if he's a secondary scoring option and ball handler. If he's the lead at either, not so much.