2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread



From two years ago before he went to Tech but... yeah, I'd take him to compete with Miles and DeWayne for minutes at the 5.

To be honest, his stats don't match his highlights. He looks like he could excel in the SEC, but like I said, his stats are underwhelming compared to what I see on the screen. I know highlights can be misleading, but definitely looks like someone that Barnes could work with.
 
Of the posts on the 1st page, the only 3 that are in the top 300 of On3 are:

#3 Massamba Diop: looks like a Gonzaga/St. John's battle
#18 Allen Graves: from Santa Clara. Don't know how likely he would be. Only downside is that he's a PF, not a Center. I just don't know if we can go into next year with Miles Rubin and a project at the Center position, unless they feel like they can put Dewayne Brown at center.
#149 Robert Miller III: from LSU. averaged about 6pts, 3.5rbs, and 1.4 blocks in about 19mpg. not bad
 
Michigan state has been to 5 in 25 years, 2 in the last 15. Yes, we’ve been to 0 but that doesn’t mean anything for this coming year. Teams have made it without being constructed like those teams you’ve mentioned. The Big 10 style hasn’t translated to much success in the tournament the last decade or so until this year. The point is, there’s no one way to do it. If there was, everyone would do whatever that is.
but the last four NCAA champs have all followed this formula: BALANCE with quality guards and a formidable frontcourt. Look at the pre-season top 10. All have formidable front courts. Only Arkansas seems a bit smallish, but they are extremely talented.
 
Genuinely, no offense meant to you, but that's an awful idea.

It punishes players committed to the "student" part of student-athlete. If I graduate in three years, why should I be punished for it? I could exhaust my collegiate eligibility and get my masters program paid for all in 5 years while competing, receiving NIL, and completing two degrees.
Exactly. Peyton Manning graduated in 3 years. He wouldn't have been eligible for a 4th.
 
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but the last four NCAA champs have all followed this formula: BALANCE with quality guards and a formidable frontcourt. Look at the pre-season top 10. All have formidable front courts. Only Arkansas seems a bit smallish, but they are extremely talented.

You have been on this for awhile man...and you keep saying phrases that are grossly vague and subjective...

What is formidable exactly to you? Bold are the only players I'd say were formidable in their championship seasons

Michigan:
Yaxel - 6'9" 230lbs - 15.1ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2bpg
Johnson - 6'9" 255lbs - 13.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.1bpg
Mara - 7'3" 240lbs - 12.1ppg 6.8rpg, 2.6bpg

Florida:
Condon - 6'11" 230lbs - 10.6ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.3bpg
Haugh - 6'9" 210lbs - 9.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg
Chinyelu - 6'11" 245lbs - 6.0ppg, 6.6rpg, 0.9bpg

UConn:
Clingan - 7'2" 265lbs - 13.0ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.5bpg
Karaban - 6'8" 210lbs - 13.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.5apg

UConn:
Sanogo - 6'9" 240lbs - 17.2ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.3apg
Clingan - 7'2" 265lbs - 6.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.8bpg
Karaban - 6'8" 210lbs - 9.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.7apg


Vols this season:
Estrella - 6'11" 241lbs - 10.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 0.8apg
Felix - 6'11" 220lbs - 8.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5bpg
Carey - 6'8" 245lbs - 7.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.3apg

If this new roster doesn't have a 7' frontcourt player but Rubin/Brown/Lue/etc. have productive seasons that would still be a formidable front court. But you seem to think the roster HAS to have a 7' guy for some reason.
 
Further context on Juke— Over the weekend we heard that he did not get the kind of feedback that would keep him in the draft. Like many kids, he’s getting fatigued with this process and the constant attention it takes. He wants to get it over with. We’ve accelerated ironing out final details in his NIL structure. Supposedly it is at the finish line. Barring any crazy development it’ll be done today and announced in the next couple of days.
As always thanks for the clarity on the matter.
 
You have been on this for awhile man...and you keep saying phrases that are grossly vague and subjective...

What is formidable exactly to you? Bold are the only players I'd say were formidable in their championship seasons

Michigan:
Yaxel - 6'9" 230lbs - 15.1ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2bpg
Johnson - 6'9" 255lbs - 13.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.1bpg
Mara - 7'3" 240lbs - 12.1ppg 6.8rpg, 2.6bpg

Florida:
Condon - 6'11" 230lbs - 10.6ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.3bpg
Haugh - 6'9" 210lbs - 9.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg
Chinyelu - 6'11" 245lbs - 6.0ppg, 6.6rpg, 0.9bpg

UConn:
Clingan - 7'2" 265lbs - 13.0ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.5bpg
Karaban - 6'8" 210lbs - 13.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.5apg

UConn:
Sanogo - 6'9" 240lbs - 17.2ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.3apg
Clingan - 7'2" 265lbs - 6.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.8bpg
Karaban - 6'8" 210lbs - 9.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.7apg


Vols this season:
Estrella - 6'11" 241lbs - 10.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 0.8apg
Felix - 6'11" 220lbs - 8.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5bpg
Carey - 6'8" 245lbs - 7.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.3apg

If this new roster doesn't have a 7' frontcourt player but Rubin/Brown/Lue/etc. have productive seasons that would still be a formidable front court. But you seem to think the roster HAS to have a 7' guy for some reason.

Narrative changed from not having enough scorers and ball handlers to not having enough 7’0 big guys.

It doesn’t matter what Barnes does.

Someone is always going to complain.
 
Gonna be weird because it will be such contrasting styles. Florida's frontcourt depth vs our backcourt depth.
Will be… I’m looking at it from a tried the size against size method last year and didn’t pan out great for the good guys. But.. personally I’ve been craving a good size with athleticism and scoring ability for a while now. So add Juke and let’s get it for me. lol
 
SIAP, but what are the chances we pull an athletic big from overseas? Barnes always has an international flavor to his teams. What's left in portal can't be the only options we have to select from, right?
 
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You have been on this for awhile man...and you keep saying phrases that are grossly vague and subjective...

What is formidable exactly to you? Bold are the only players I'd say were formidable in their championship seasons

Michigan:
Yaxel - 6'9" 230lbs - 15.1ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2bpg
Johnson - 6'9" 255lbs - 13.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.1bpg
Mara - 7'3" 240lbs - 12.1ppg 6.8rpg, 2.6bpg

Florida:
Condon - 6'11" 230lbs - 10.6ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.3bpg
Haugh - 6'9" 210lbs - 9.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg
Chinyelu - 6'11" 245lbs - 6.0ppg, 6.6rpg, 0.9bpg

UConn:
Clingan - 7'2" 265lbs - 13.0ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.5bpg
Karaban - 6'8" 210lbs - 13.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.5apg

UConn:
Sanogo - 6'9" 240lbs - 17.2ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.3apg
Clingan - 7'2" 265lbs - 6.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.8bpg
Karaban - 6'8" 210lbs - 9.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.7apg


Vols this season:
Estrella - 6'11" 241lbs - 10.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 0.8apg
Felix - 6'11" 220lbs - 8.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5bpg
Carey - 6'8" 245lbs - 7.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.3apg

If this new roster doesn't have a 7' frontcourt player but Rubin/Brown/Lue/etc. have productive seasons that would still be a formidable front court. But you seem to think the roster HAS to have a 7' guy for some reason.
No complaining here, I just think Tennessee needs to add another big incase someone gets hurt or in foul trouble.

As far as formidable goes, I would say every UC, UM, and UF front court player listed was good-to-elite. My definition of formidable is if a player has what it takes to get drafted. All of championship teams listed had great balance 1 thru 5 and depth.
 
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Top 10 for sure. Top 5 if we can sign another center. It's a super athletic team, but not a lot of height.
It’s gonna be hard for big guys to stay in front of our players with the way the roster is built now. I honestly don’t think it’s that big of a deal. There’s not too many Okpara’s out there that can stay infront of guards/wings on the perimeter. And even as great as Okpara was at it he still lost his fair share of battles. I’d like another big too, but if the roster ends up the way it is, then you start running 5 out offense (which Barnes has never done) and you make other people pay for their size. I know everyone is fascinated with a loaded front court after Florida won it 2 years ago, but we tried that this year and couldn’t beat teams with a great front court at their own game. You also have Lue who can put it on the ground, which will be a match up nightmare when he’s on the court. Barnes maybe zigging while everyone else is zagging and I think that aligns with what he’s said in the past as his dream roster
 
It’s gonna be hard for big guys to stay in front of our players with the way the roster is built now. I honestly don’t think it’s that big of a deal. There’s not too many Okpara’s out there that can stay infront of guards/wings on the perimeter. And even as great as Okpara was at it he still lost his fair share of battles. I’d like another big too, but if the roster ends up the way it is, then you start running 5 out offense (which Barnes has never done) and you make other people pay for their size. I know everyone is fascinated with a loaded front court after Florida won it 2 years ago, but we tried that this year and couldn’t beat teams with a great front court at their own game. You also have Lue who can put it on the ground, which will be a match up nightmare when he’s on the court. Barnes maybe zigging while everyone else is zagging and I think that aligns with what he’s said in the past as his dream roster
I agree. With the team he has put together, it may not be nearly as important that we try match everyone size for size. Just go out and play a relatively uptempo game, and the big cedars will tire out and simply become relative non-factors in the game. These 6'9" guys should be able to get down the court along with everyone else, and the big tall guys won't even be able to make it downcourt before the play is over.

At least, that's the idea that I'm warming up to. Scorers or not, some of our bigs seem pretty athletic, and capable of making up for some of their lack of height.
 

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