2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

Haven’t gone back too many pages, what’s everyone feeling on Juke? Vol lock? Where we at? Suppose we will definitely know by tomorrow correct?
I think we are optimistic about landing Juke, but I doubt we'll know by tomorrow. He's already in the portal, so tomorrow's date really has no bearing on him.
 
The 7-9 would be right now, not after a potential addition of Juke, also not sure it’s quite that much, but also it’s not some hard set number either.

I suspect what's happening is that we're collectively evaluating this in salary cap terms, and that's not how NIL works.

When you need money, you make a call. Maybe someone says yes, and maybe someone lectures you for being too wasteful/greedy.
 
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I suspect what's happening is that we're collectively evaluating this in salary cap terms, and that's not how NIL works.

When you need money, you make a call. Maybe someone says yes, and maybe someone lectures you for being too wasteful/greedy.
Correct, there’s a ballpark, but it’s not some hard set number
 
The 7-9 would be right now, not after a potential addition of Juke, also not sure it’s quite that much, but also it’s not some hard set number either.
Wow. That’s more than I’d have expected. I’ve started to feel nervous about Juke getting bumped up offers that would put us out of it but maybe I shouldn’t
 
Well, it wasn't in the SEC, but Bonke averaged more rebounds, blocks, and PPG than UT's starting center. He improved dramatically over the prior year. Bigs take longer to develop. He could be a very good center in a better conference this year. Apparently, MSU and Kansas think so and Izzo and Self seem to be pretty good judges of Big-man talent. Now money, as BTO points out could be another issue. Posters on Volnation seem to think NIL money this year is not a prohibiting factor, but maybe it is.
I agree with you. While not dominate he is different than Rubin and I like his video. Moves reasonably well and has pick/pop potential which does open floor. Does have post skills and is huge. We need some bigs. Hastings is an athletic 6’9 who would fit well as shot blocker, able to switch onto guards etc…. Bonke is completely different. I’d take them both. Rubin will play his role but some questions about him too. All bigs we are looking at have questions. Just need a collection of them who individually may be more favorable against certain matchups.
 
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Respectfully Santi was one of most conditioned athletes this conference has ever seen. He ran more steps all over than anyone. He was like RIP Hamilton and Reggie Miller in that regard, always running wing to wing and therefore wore down opponents.
Lundblade supposedly is non stop mover without the ball too.
 
Best shot blockers available:
#1 Kyle Evans (UC Irvine): Led the nation with 3.29 blks per game. He's a senior, so got no idea what his eligibility situation is.
#9 Chol Machot (College of Charleston): Might offer nice value but unclear if his game translates with a big step up in competiton
#12: Miles Rubin: in the boat
#23 Massamba Diop (ASU): asking value is $2m according to on3 and he has crystal balls for St. Johns and Gonzaga.
#46 Ben Defty (BU)
#60 Moustapha Thiam (UC)
#73 Anton Bonke
#103 Robert Miller III (LSU)

Best Rebounders Available:
#46 Kyle Evans (UC Irvine): See above
#66 Anton Bonke (Charlotte): See above
#101 Paulius Murauskas (SMC): Has a crystal ball with ASU
#140 Moustapha Thiam (UC)
#149 Miles Rubin: in the boat

...and that is all of the available rebounders who are both currently in the top 200 portal rankings on On3 and were in the top 150 in rebounding last season. Might wanna give Kyle Evans a look, but other than that it kinda seems like there is a lack of quality rebounding bigs in the portal right now. Makes me wish we had gotten Dowd. He was #11 nationally.
 
Yeah, you know, a lot of guys do well at 6'8" or 6'9", and have some good stats, but when they come up against a really skilled big man, they can struggle greatly. Next game they are putting up big stats again. So, I am not sure we can really compete at the highest level without some major height, or at least a good combo of height and strength (weight).

You can wear down a big guy pretty quickly if you are up and down the court a lot, but I'm not sure we will ever have that style of game with Rick Barnes.
Exactly! And ever since the portal era the teams with 7ft centers are the teams to win a championship.

Michigan '26 - Mara (7'2),
Florida '25 - Handgloten (7'1) but also two 6'11 players in Condon and Chinyelu
Uconn '23 and '24 - Clingan (7'2)

Also Purdue was dominant with Edey (7'4) some of those years.
 
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Kyle Evans was also 10th nationally in double doubles. I got no idea if his game translates though and he's a senior so probably contingent on whatever the NCAA decides to do with an extra year of eligibility.
 
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I don’t think that’s a concern at all

Do you think it’s likely we hear about it any new visits to campus this week as we look to fill the last 3 spots? Or is everything in a holding pattern until Jule makes his decision? And even then his decision may not be final if he continues to explore the NBA draft options.
 
Best shot blockers available:
#1 Kyle Evans (UC Irvine): Led the nation with 3.29 blks per game. He's a senior, so got no idea what his eligibility situation is.
#9 Chol Machot (College of Charleston): Might offer nice value but unclear if his game translates with a big step up in competiton
#12: Miles Rubin: in the boat
#23 Massamba Diop (ASU): asking value is $2m according to on3 and he has crystal balls for St. Johns and Gonzaga.
#46 Ben Defty (BU)
#60 Moustapha Thiam (UC)
#73 Anton Bonke
#103 Robert Miller III (LSU)

Best Rebounders Available:
#46 Kyle Evans (UC Irvine): See above
#66 Anton Bonke (Charlotte): See above
#101 Paulius Murauskas (SMC): Has a crystal ball with ASU
#140 Moustapha Thiam (UC)
#149 Miles Rubin: in the boat

...and that is all of the available rebounders who are both currently in the top 200 portal rankings on On3 and were in the top 150 in rebounding last season. Might wanna give Kyle Evans a look, but other than that it kinda seems like there is a lack of quality rebounding bigs in the portal right now. Makes me wish we had gotten Dowd. He was #11 nationally.
Hastings & Bambgoye fit the criteria but aren’t ranked the the top 200 I’m guessing is why you didn’t post them.
 
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Do you think it’s likely we hear about it any new visits to campus this week as we look to fill the last 3 spots? Or is everything in a holding pattern until Jule makes his decision? And even then his decision may not be final if he continues to explore the NBA draft options.
I don’t think we’re in a holding pattern contingent on Juke, I think we letting the portal finish and see who’s in/out, I think you’ll see some visits this week.
 

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