2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[bleedingTNorange]

Igor could play on the perimeter. Even though he regressed a good bit from 3, his ability to handle the ball, drive and pass was pretty good for a guy his size. Haven’t seen that from Carey.

Different ways to skin a cat, Edey couldn’t play on the perimeter but was dominant…Carey showed a back to the basket game that not only did Milicic never show, but nobody on our team showed.

 

[volinexile17]

Igor was the better scorer for sure, shooting 74% from the FT line and 60% from 2. He was also the better playmaker, having the best assist rate after ZZ among regular rotation players.

Carey is the better offensive rebounder, though, by a good margin. He also gets to the FT line better and is generally more comfortable playing through heavy contact in the paint. He brings an element there that we didn't have.

But Estrella, who you didn't mention, is the wild card at that position. At his ceiling he might be able to shoot like Igor (he shot 71% from both the FT line and the floor his freshman year), while also being comfortable in contact like Carey (while also being 3 inches taller than Carey). His floor, on the other hand, is "injured; did not play." Anything at all in between is probably still on the table until we see more from him.

Agree Estrella could be a big X factor, but it’s hard to know until we see what he can do for a full season.

 

[volinexile17]

Different ways to skin a cat, Edey couldn’t play on the perimeter but was dominant…Carey showed a back to the basket game that not only did Milicic never show, but nobody on our team showed.

Carey isn’t Edey and I think his offensive game is duplicative of what Okpara gives us.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Carey isn’t Edey and I think his offensive game is duplicative of what Okpara gives us.

About 95% of Okpara’s baskets were dunks off lobster or offensive rebounds, Carey is polar opposite of that. More Grant Williams than Okpara if you’re trying to make a comp

 

[CAVPUT]

If there was something crazy going on it’s likely players would be released and if not potentially ncaa giving a waiver…I don’t see either as likely, but who knows.

If the NCAA is being counted on for a waiver, UT is screwed. No way they rule in our favor....in anything.

 

[volinexile17]

About 95% of Okpara’s baskets were dunks off lobster or offensive rebounds, Carey is polar opposite of that. More Grant Williams than Okpara if you’re trying to make a comp

Admittedly I watched very little Vandy bball and my opinion of Carey’s game is based on a few minutes of highlights. That said, not seeing much Grant in his game. Grant was a really good shooter with a varied post game. He was also a decent ball handler.

Carey has a couple post moves but almost all his offense comes from within a few feet of the basket. Looks more like final season Fulkerson at best.

 

[therickbol]

Carey isn’t Edey and I think his offensive game is duplicative of what Okpara gives us.

Very different offensive player than Okpara. Okpara has no feel or instincts, poor touch, average footwork around the rim. He is elite at catching lobs. That's the entirety of his ability to score in the paint.

 

[volinexile17]

Very different offensive player than Okpara. Okpara has no feel or instincts, poor touch, average footwork around the rim. He is elite at catching lobs. That's the entirety of his ability to score in the paint.

They both need to be within 5 feet of the basket to score. That is my point. You can’t have two guys clogging the paint.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

Milicic: 25.4mpg 9.4ppg 6.7rpg 46.2%FG 60.2%2ptFG
Carey: 20.2mpg 8.0ppg 5.7rpg 48.8%FG 54.5%2ptFG

If you give Carey 5 more MPG does he score 1 more basket and grab 1 more rebound? Probably. He was also a sophomore versus a senior, so the potential for continued growth and progression is also there.

To add to that... Comparing the PF position would not just be Igor to Carey.... it would be Igor & Cade from last year ... to this years most likely improved Carey & much improved Phillips.

 

[rdk4121]

Spacing is the biggest concern for me. None of our bigs have shown the ability or willingness to take 3s. Plus, not having Chaz as an absolute sniper from deep will make a difference.

Hopefully Carey, Cade, or Estrella can at least make some midrange jumpers. I know Estrella can stretch it out a little bit. Carey takes 3s, just doesn't make them at even an average clip.

 

[TrapVol]

I hadn’t seen anything mentioning him in practice, if he’s there and practicing then yes, that becomes not likely at all.

He attended practice, yes, but hasn’t participated yet. Apparently, he still has to finish high school course work before he can officially enroll. I suppose there‘a still a chance that Musselman could screw things up but as of now, it doesn’t look like he’s wavering in his commitment.

USC Trojans' 5-Star Commit Alijah Arenas Attends Practice After Scary Car Crash

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Admittedly I watched very little Vandy bball and my opinion of Carey’s game is based on a few minutes of highlights. That said, not seeing much Grant in his game. Grant was a really good shooter with a varied post game. He was also a decent ball handler.

Carey has a couple post moves but almost all his offense comes from within a few feet of the basket. Looks more like final season Fulkerson at best.

Carey made the exact same number of 3’s in his first 2 years of college as Grant did, you’re confusing NBA Grant with college Grant, who wasn’t a perimeter shooter.

 

[volinexile17]

Carey made the exact same number of 3’s in his first 2 years of college as Grant did, you’re confusing NBA Grant with college Grant, who wasn’t a perimeter shooter.

I don’t watch the NBA.

Grant took more FGs in his second season than Carey has in his career. Grant was the focal point of our offense and took tons of shots from midrange, especially at the elbows. His free throw % improved every season along with his jumper.

Carey is a 50% free throw shooter, reflective of the fact that he’s just not a good shooter. Most of his buckets come from right around the rim.

Carey is a tough, hard working player. Think he’s a good addition. He’s just not much of threat offensively unless his game really develops. If it stays the same, I don’t see him being on the floor at the same time as Okpara. Think we’ll see more of Cade, Estrella, or Ament at the 4.

 

[StepCross]

I don’t watch the NBA.

Grant took more FGs in his second season than Carey has in his career. Grant was the focal point of our offense and took tons of shots from midrange, especially at the elbows. His free throw % improved every season along with his jumper.

Carey is a 50% free throw shooter, reflective of the fact that he’s just not a good shooter. Most of his buckets come from right around the rim.

Carey is a tough, hard working player. Think he’s a good addition. He’s just not much of threat offensively unless his game really develops. If it stays the same, I don’t see him being on the floor at the same time as Okpara. Think we’ll see more of Cade, Estrella, or Ament at the 4.

Grant Williams was a 2-time SEC POY. Carey isn’t going to be that, which I think we can all agree on.

But he can still be an offensive threat without being GW.

Last year Carey hit 63 2-pointers in conference play. Here is the list of vols who hit 63 2-pointers in conference play last year:



There are none.

So he has a skill set we can use.

He also led the sec in offensive rebound percentage—literally #1–which is a skill set every team can use.

But the problem is, as you point out, spacing. Carey is stout in the paint offensively, but he is not a shot blocking 5 defensively and he’s not a stretch 4 offensively. And the modern game sort of recommends both. So he’s got to stretch his game out to at least the free throw line, or we have to play with an unusual lineup, or he will see limited minutes. Or maybe a hybrid combination of all three.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

I don’t watch the NBA.

Grant took more FGs in his second season than Carey has in his career. Grant was the focal point of our offense and took tons of shots from midrange, especially at the elbows. His free throw % improved every season along with his jumper.

Carey is a 50% free throw shooter, reflective of the fact that he’s just not a good shooter. Most of his buckets come from right around the rim.

Carey is a tough, hard working player. Think he’s a good addition. He’s just not much of threat offensively unless his game really develops. If it stays the same, I don’t see him being on the floor at the same time as Okpara. Think we’ll see more of Cade, Estrella, or Ament at the 4.

No knock on Carey,but he will not be the offensive force grant was . Nor will he be

 

[All Vol!]

Well let him get here and play a year, then we’ll all know. We all had high hopes for Knecht, but I don’t think anyone saw him becoming a Vol legend in a single season and National Player of the Year runner up. Just my 2, but I don’t like passing judgement on a player before he’s played his first game here.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I don’t watch the NBA.

Grant took more FGs in his second season than Carey has in his career. Grant was the focal point of our offense and took tons of shots from midrange, especially at the elbows. His free throw % improved every season along with his jumper.

Carey is a 50% free throw shooter, reflective of the fact that he’s just not a good shooter. Most of his buckets come from right around the rim.

Carey is a tough, hard working player. Think he’s a good addition. He’s just not much of threat offensively unless his game really develops. If it stays the same, I don’t see him being on the floor at the same time as Okpara. Think we’ll see more of Cade, Estrella, or Ament at the 4.

We’ll see but I think your very wrong, most project our starting lineup literally will be those 2.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Grant Williams was a 2-time SEC POY. Carey isn’t going to be that, which I think we can all agree on.

But he can still be an offensive threat without being GW.

Last year Carey hit 63 2-pointers in conference play. Here is the list of vols who hit 63 2-pointers in conference play last year:



There are none.

So he has a skill set we can use.

He also led the sec in offensive rebound percentage—literally #1–which is a skill set every team can use.

But the problem is, as you point out, spacing. Carey is stout in the paint offensively, but he is not a shot blocking 5 defensively and he’s not a stretch 4 offensively. And the modern game sort of recommends both. So he’s got to stretch his game out to at least the free throw line, or we have to play with an unusual lineup, or he will see limited minutes. Or maybe a hybrid combination of all three.

The 2 teams in the national championship didn’t really have true stretch fours

 

[VolsNetClippers2025]

Hope we hear some stuff soon on the guard!

 

[allvolrecruiting]

The 2 teams in the national championship didn’t really have true stretch fours

Don't think Carey is similar to those players tho

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Don't think Carey is similar to those players tho

Not identical, but similar in that they aren’t really floor stretching big men, they do the bulk of their work from 2 and help own the glass.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

.

 

[StepCross]

The 2 teams in the national championship didn’t really have true stretch fours

No doubt about that. And I’m on record that I think next year’s Tennessee offense will be good.

 

[ColinS]

I keep seeing Phillips listed at the 4 in mock rotations. We have not seen the skill set needed for him to be successful there. Doesn't mean he absolutely doesn't have it but we just haven't seen it yet. Does anybody know where he is in terms of developing this and if this is even the staffs plan on how to use him. I wouldn't be suprised to see Estrella in more of a power forward role than Phillips. Cade is a weapon around the rim and is probably a better rim protector than Estrella.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I keep seeing Phillips listed at the 4 in mock rotations. We have not seen the skill set needed for him to be successful there. Doesn't mean he absolutely doesn't have it but we just haven't seen it yet. Does anybody know where he is in terms of developing this and if this is even the staffs plan on how to use him. I wouldn't be suprised to see Estrella in more of a power forward role than Phillips. Cade is a weapon around the rim and is probably a better rim protector than Estrella.

Recent reports have mentioned Phillips as getting time at the 3 currently