2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

#8,576
#8,576
MinisterofDef#92 said:
Surprised by 25% chance Ament returns...interesting but I would guess much lower (10% or less) despite knowing how much Ament & his family love CRB. Also seems odd Tanner would wait to the very last possible minute so 33% feels high as well but we'll find out soon. Thanks as always for sharing your thoughts and insights.
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Call them optimistic, or at least amateur. The updates are solid. The predictions are orange glasses, I’m sure.
 
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#8,577
#8,577
Stoerner Fumbles said:
I haven't shared anything because the people I know who are closest to the situation don't know. I always feel the need to counter a TB post just to ground us in reality. All of the long odds options are still being back-channeled. All of the high odds situations are being worked. All of the backup plans are being worked through too. I just don't want to be on the record with predictions when the people I know who are very inside don't know. The Tanner thing just can't be weighed until the portal closes. There has been ongoing back-channel discussions for the last week. Tanner's agent is going to walk this thing all the way up to the edge whether he enters or not. I can't rate odds, but the clock is the enemy, obviously. His agent's contacted us several times yesterday. You can't call it dead. Hill has no reticence around TT coming, if it happens. We continue to lead for Juke, but Michigan isn't relenting. UNC seems to have finally moved on. If this were over today, he'd be ours. Unfortunately, he's playing through some draft evaluations and that extends the timeline, and leaves us exposed. Everyone still feels like we are ahead, but no one likes the national champion hanging around with a bag. I hate to even bring this one up, but CRB will have a sit-down with Nate and family. I want to be crystal clear that Barnes has never told a kid to come back if he believes the best choice is to move on. The draft consultants that Ament has believe he has a higher chance to ascend against projections than slip. They have said the best guess is he will be 12-14, the floor is 18 and the ceiling could be as high as eighth. That describes a kid that should enter the draft. There is still some question about his physical maturity, and lack of aggression, but it is almost impossible to pass on a kid who is that tall who has those skills. I just can't get hopeful about this. Here is my back the napkin odds list-- Juke 60-75% good guys. Tanner 33% chance he enters, 90% ours if he does. Ament 25% comes back. This would be much closer to zero, but he is having the meeting and his family loves CRB. I would have dumped Tanner's odds over the weekend, but there is continued smoke. We have other plans in motion. This is a great class foundation, and I feel good we'll get to the other side with a roster that can go far. I just don't know exactly how that shakes out. I love pickups so far. These are predominantly very athletic, hoop aggressive players with a solid handle and shooting ability. I think the three H combo would be the most solid diverse portal signees we've ever had, as a group. I love Haralson's fire, and I saw Hill play twice last year. He has a first step that is elite, much more lift than Jakobi, and sees the court two moves ahead. He's going to be very good. Lundblade is a bit of a Hoosier, but a true weapon nonetheless. Barnes did not like the trees in the lane last year. He much prefers mobility and fire in bigs. Felix was a dream player for him. Brown has proven to be a very quick learner and sees the court better than the average big. It's a roster I wouldn't want to play, and we aren't done. I think we'll continue to get clarity in incremental doses. The first shot comes today. Lots of reason to be hopeful about the roster, but we don't know all the parts yet.
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Thanks for the update! I’m amused by the “60-75%” prediction for Juke 🤣
 
#8,580
#8,580
Geronimo said:
I still think we may not hear if Tanner enters tomorrow for a few days. Schools (to my understanding) can slow play portal entry announcements.
I won’t give up on the dream of Tanner until Tge weekend or confirmation from BTO or SF.
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I cant imagine that being a possibility as Vanderbilt would be so screwed if lost the one piece they couldn't lose at a point they couldn't seek a replacement body. Someone that found out on Vandys side would go scorched earth.
 
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#8,581
#8,581
TheMookieMonster said:
I mean, if Ament did come back though you wouldn’t necessarily need another big. He’s 6’10” and could play the 4 in some small ball lineups.
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I think he had to decide by Friday. With portal closing tonight. Its important that Coach Barnes and Nates Ament are candid with each other because if he is or isnt coming back alters what we do in 16 hours or so. We cant not pursue a particular player only for him to leave and we have a significant hole.
 
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#8,582
#8,582
Stoerner Fumbles said:
I’m going to give a medium frustrating update on Tanner. I’m holding some optimism still because we AREN’T hearing anything. About ten days ago, we made a really simple overture to Tanner. It goes like this: We’re building a championship roster. Watch us build it. If you want to come be a part of this, the money will be substantially better and the growth and team will too. Basically we painted a picture where he can come in after seeing the team shape up and not have to get into the tangle of visits etc. He has sophisticated representation and competing opinions in his family and team. I think our staff/collective gave them a path where they each get what they want. Will he enter? Dunno. There are three paths: stay, nba or come join us. We made a smart move by taking away option four— shop it. I like the silence. I know I could be wrong, but Hill, Haralson and Harris all followed a path where other schools and writers were the last to know what we were up to. We’ll know by early next week where all the cards fall, but we will do just about anything to close with TT if he’s game. The three people I trust the most on this all have a little smirk on this one, like something is up. It was the same way early with Nate last year.
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I have a question and I understand if you don’t know the answer:

Do you get the impression that Tanner‘s agent is acting on his own, or do you think Tanner is actually listening? Obviously, his agent would be motivated by the huge payday. I’m starting to get the impression that Tanner has no intention of entering the portal but is still fine hearing the pitch just in case.
 
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#8,587
#8,587
Don’t need Tanner. We need Juke. We could sweeten the pot with him and Ament instead, and get a couple of bugs with enough of a pulse to absorb 5 fouls each a game and we are in great shape.
 
#8,588
#8,588
MrAtkins said:
Don’t need Tanner. We need Juke. We could sweeten the pot with him and Ament instead, and get a couple of bugs with enough of a pulse to absorb 5 fouls each a game and we are in great shape.
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Nah. Tanner is a top ten player in college basketball next year. If there’s a chance you pull out all the stops.
 
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#8,589
#8,589
Alright I'll pose another question:
If you were guaranteed one of these two options which would you pick:
1) Tanner + Juke
2) Ament + Juke

Also assume that we get a semi-quality big man to replace Felix.
For me, it would be option 2 Ament + Juke because we got Hill Jr to be the PG so that is less of a need. Plus Ament returning would just make me feel warmer haha than getting a Vandy mercenary.
 
#8,590
#8,590
MrAtkins said:
Don’t need Tanner. We need Juke. We could sweeten the pot with him and Ament instead, and get a couple of bugs with enough of a pulse to absorb 5 fouls each a game and we are in great shape.
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Juke would give us that second top
Notch scorer and bucket getter when u got have one, like game on line …. Because that makes it hard to just double team hill on pressure situations . Course Nate comes back he gives us another big bucket man also
 
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#8,591
#8,591
Apparently, John Pennington claims to have heard through the NIL vine that Oracle founder and Michigan booster Larry Ellison told Michigan “whatever it takes” to get Juke, meaning he’ll better any offer he gets no matter how high the price.

I don’t normally listen to the Sports Source, so I have no idea how reliable information from John Pennington is.
 
#8,592
#8,592
When I take TN totally out of the equation I still see Ament as a guy that needs another year of college ball and physical maturity to be “NBA ready” from day one. IMO, if he goes this year it better be with a team willing to bite the bullet on a guy that’s going to be inconsistent with glimpses of brilliance along with some ugly, subpar performances as well. A “puppy” if you will.

Regardless what he decides I wish him the best. Seems to be a really great kid.
 
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#8,593
#8,593
MrAtkins said:
Don’t need Tanner. We need Juke. We could sweeten the pot with him and Ament instead, and get a couple of bugs with enough of a pulse to absorb 5 fouls each a game and we are in great shape.
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I would like to have Tanner because he would not be there to beat us again.
 
#8,594
#8,594
TrapVol said:
Apparently, John Pennington claims to have heard through the NIL vine that Oracle founder and Michigan booster Larry Ellison told Michigan “whatever it takes” to get Juke, meaning he’ll better any offer he gets no matter how high the price.

I don’t normally listen to the Sports Source, so I have no idea how reliable information from John Pennington is.
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Money not the big deal for Juke. He loves coach Barnes and has for years. He is expected to pick Vols. Stop worrying about Michigan. Juke had vols second on his list in his recruitment. That does matter.
 
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#8,596
#8,596
brockytop said:
When I take TN totally out of the equation I still see Ament as a guy that needs another year of college ball and physical maturity to be “NBA ready” from day one. IMO, if he goes this year it better be with a team willing to bite the bullet on a guy that’s going to be inconsistent with glimpses of brilliance along with some ugly subpar performances as well, a “puppy” if you will.

Regardless what he decides I wish him the best. Seems to be a really great kid.
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The Thunder (via the SGA trade if you can believe it) will be picking in the draft this year precisely where Ament is projected.

It would be a perfect landing spot because he wouldn't need to play anytime soon and could develop behind the scenes for what is probably the best organization in all of basketball right now.
 
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#8,597
#8,597
brockytop said:
When I take TN totally out of the equation I still see Ament as a guy that needs another year of college ball and physical maturity to be “NBA ready” from day one. IMO, if he goes this year it better be with a team willing to bite the bullet on a guy that’s going to be inconsistent with glimpses of brilliance along with some ugly subpar performances as well, a “puppy” if you will.

Regardless what he decides I wish him the best. Seems to be a really great kid.
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Yeah, I would rather see him stay in college another year and get bigger (wherever that would be), than get drafted only to end up in G league hell.
 
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#8,598
#8,598
omghulkhands said:
The Thunder (via the SGA trade if you can believe it) will be picking in the draft this year precisely where Ament is projected.

It would be a perfect landing spot because he wouldn't need to play anytime soon and could develop behind the scenes for what is probably the best organization in all of basketball right now.
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Off topic, but the rich get richer in that instance. Such a well run organization.
 
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#8,599
#8,599
omghulkhands said:
The Thunder (via the SGA trade if you can believe it) will be picking in the draft this year precisely where Ament is projected.

It would be a perfect landing spot because he wouldn't need to play anytime soon and could develop behind the scenes for what is probably the best organization in all of basketball right now.
Click to expand...

I agree about the Thunder as an organization, but Ament needs legit court time—can he get it with them?
 
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#8,600
#8,600
Legion of Doom said:
Money not the big deal for Juke. He loves coach Barnes and has for years. He is expected to pick Vols. Stop worrying about Michigan. Juke had vols second on his list in his recruitment. That does matter.
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I’m not worried about Michigan and I agree that money isn’t everything in this recruitment. I was just passing along the info. And for what it’s worth, Pennington said most think that Tennessee would get him if it ended today. That’s nothing we haven’t already heard, but it does speak to the importance of relationships over money.

Oh, and you’re not the boss of me so don’t tell me what to do 🤪
 
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