2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[TheMookieMonster]

Thankfully these were actually seen with their own eyes and not the 4th hand info from behind closed door shootarounds lol

Still, I think stuff like this is going to give people expectations that Henderson is going to have a big role this year, which I just don’t think is going to be the case. I’d be shocked if he is consistently in the rotation and getting 5-10 minutes a game.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Still, I think stuff like this is going to give people expectations that Henderson is going to have a big role this year, which I just don’t think is going to be the case. I’d be shocked if he is consistently in the rotation and getting 5-10 minutes a game.

That’s fair, someone of Boswell/Evans/Massamba/Henderson will have to have a role most likely and 3 of those guys were limited/not there.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

That’s fair, someone of Boswell/Evans/Massamba/Henderson will have to have a role most likely and 3 of those guys were limited/not there.

Excatly, there has to be one other player who spells the 1/2 guard spot. How effective they'll be is up for debate but one of them will certainly get minutes.

 

[VolsNetClippers2025]

Have a hope (absolutely no basis) that person we are in contact with may be int'l - so makes it possible they are waiting until second summer school session like Massamba and thus no reason to announce anything yet?

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Have a hope (absolutely no basis) that person we are in contact with may be int'l - so makes it possible they are waiting until second summer school session like Massamba and thus no reason to announce anything yet?

That’s possible, but there’s really not much left in that market, maybe Ilija Milijasevic but at best that feels like another option as SG but with a lot of unknowns. If there is someone I lean towards it being a guy that is seeking a 5th year waiver, maybe for JUCO/D2 reasons, or hardship waiver etc, but someone like that who has yet to receive it.

 

[Skooter]

Don’t sleep on Massamba. He’s not even here yet so he will be behind when he comes in. He’s got some flair and confidence. Defense will be the battle. He’s been playing against better competition, length and skill than most other incoming freshmen.

 

[VolsNetClippers2025]

That’s possible, but there’s really not much left in that market, maybe Ilija Milijasevic but at best that feels like another option as SG but with a lot of unknowns. If there is someone I lean towards it being a guy that is seeking a 5th year waiver, maybe for JUCO/D2 reasons, or hardship waiver etc, but someone like that who has yet to receive it.

Understood, hopefully some news soon.

 

[i2amavol]

I don’t think they’ll put him at PG like last year, I think that experiment has pretty much passed, more of a Mashack type now

I agree. However, I do believe he is a better scorer than most people think.

 

[Dougie_D]

Here's my projection for Starters/Minutes. The big question for me is who going to be our main backup at the 2 spot. I'm just going with the flow with Massamba right now.
1 - Gillespie - 32
2 - Abram - 26
3 - Ament - 30
4 - Carey - 28
5 - Okafor -28
----------
Off bench players:
Phillips - 25
JP - 17
Massamba - 15
----------
Boswell - 10
Evans - 6
Henderson - 4
Brown - 4

 

[nateernst]

Hot take Jalen Carey is 2nd team all SEC next season

 

[sami]

I understand the doubt from many here about Boswell's upside, but I can't help but believe that if Barnes didn't have great confidence that he can and will grow as a player and be a viable rotation piece at some point he would have already eased him out the door.

Last year his only job was to not turn the ball over and to play some defense - essentially not to screw things up until we could get ZZ back in the game. If he isn't giving us 10-12 minutes of solid PG play by mid-season then you have to question his even taking up a roster spot.

 

[Chris4Vols22]

I understand the doubt from many here about Boswell's upside, but I can't help but believe that if Barnes didn't have great confidence that he can and will grow as a player and be a viable rotation piece at some point he would have already eased him out the door.

Last year his only job was to not turn the ball over and to play some defense - essentially not to screw things up until we could get ZZ back in the game. If he isn't giving us 10-12 minutes of solid PG play by mid-season then you have to question his even taking up a roster spot.

I think this will be a make-or-break season for him; you may be saying the same thing. I'm def cheering for him. I like his attitude and hustle from what I remember. Of course, he will most likely need to up his game to retain his spot on the roster.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

I think this will be a make-or-break season for him; you may be saying the same thing. I'm def cheering for him. I like his attitude and hustle from what I remember. Of course, he will most likely need to up his game to retain his spot on the roster.

Boswell don’t see the floor this year , it’s going be Cameron Carr times 2. He will transfer out

 

[sami]

Boswell don’t see the floor this year , it’s going be Cameron Carr times 2. He will transfer out

I'm sure Barnes is reading this and thinking "what on earth do I see in this kid if Bigorangefan 98 is out on him?".

 

[VolsNetClippers2025]

Wonder what the practice observations are of Abram and his level of play. If we don't get anybody else in he's the obvious starter at 2, hope he can bring his game up a level.

 

[therickbol]

Boswell don’t see the floor this year , it’s going be Cameron Carr times 2. He will transfer out

I hate that Boswell and Barnes didn't get that truth from you before deciding to move forward on the roster this season. It sure would have been easier on everyone.

 

[VolsNetClippers2025]

Pure brain rot at this point and just passing the time/bored, but am again thinking through potential rotation and points projections given the current state of the roster and what we know from limited practice observations:

PG: Gillespie | 33 mpg | 16 ppg
SG: Abram | 30 mpg | 10 ppg
SF: Ament | 33 mpg | 17 ppg
PF: Phillips | 19 mpg | 7 ppg
C: Okpara | 25 mpg | 8 ppg
***
G: Boswell | 10 mpg | 3 ppg
F: Carey | 18 mpg | 8 ppg
F: Estrella | 15 mpg | 7 ppg
***
G: Evans | 5 mpg | 1 ppg
G: Henderson | 5 mpg | 1 ppg
G: Massamba | 4 mpg | 1 ppg
F: Brown | 3 mpg | 1 ppg


Feel like you could probably change Evans/Boswell/Massamba/Henderson minutes around however it ends up shaking out and get pretty much the same result. People will moan about a lack of guard scoring punch off the bench but I take 80 ppg all day.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

Imagine going into this season with the same 12 guys we have & this guy never leaving (giving us 13.) All of the guard depth & shooting discussion concerns from many would be thrown out. Still hurts that Cam left. Even the other Vols like Zeigler etc believes Cam will end up being in the league.

After his mother & father shared with me why Carr left it made a little more sense, but still the would could should of hurts with Carr in Knoxville

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

I hate that Boswell and Barnes didn't get that truth from you before deciding to move forward on the roster this season. It sure would have been easier on everyone.

I mean. Hope I am wrong on this issue . But better be some Improvement from year 1 to year 2 ….

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

I mean. Hope I am wrong on this issue . But better be some Improvement from year 1 to year 2 ….

Why would there be no improvement?
Why would the coaching staff want Bishop to stay if they had doubts about his development?
Boswells trainer says he sees a new player when training Boswell. Implying there's been tons of growth.

 

[walkenvol]

Imagine going into this season with the same 12 guys we have & this guy never leaving (giving us 13.) All of the guard depth & shooting discussion concerns from many would be thrown out. Still hurts that Cam left. Even the other Vols like Zeigler etc believes Cam will end up being in the league.

After his mother & father shared with me why Carr left it made a little more sense, but still the would could should of hurts with Carr in Knoxville

What was their reasoning for leaving?

 

[wtmvol]

Why would there be no improvement?
Why would the coaching staff want Bishop to stay if they had doubts about his development?
Boswells trainer says he sees a new player when training Boswell. Implying there's been tons of growth.

It’s good to have depth at the end of the bench. I mean, I hope Boswell takes an unbelievable leap in year 2. But just because Barnes wanted BB to stay doesn’t mean he’s expecting him to get major minutes.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

It’s good to have depth at the end of the bench. I mean, I hope Boswell takes an unbelievable leap in year 2. But just because Barnes wanted BB to stay doesn’t mean he’s expecting him to get major minutes.

I didn't mention "big minutes." Reply was centered on the topic of improvements. Look at the comment I responded to.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

What was their reasoning for leaving?

Here's 3 screenshots of one of our conversations. The parents long reply into 2 different screenshots to my question in blue bubble screenshot. Glad to share.

 

[CAVPUT]

Don’t sleep on Massamba. He’s not even here yet so he will be behind when he comes in. He’s got some flair and confidence. Defense will be the battle. He’s been playing against better competition, length and skill than most other incoming freshmen.

Honestly, I think he's at or near the end of the bench. Year one under Barnes is a tall hill to climb. I'll be shocked if he's in the regular rotation.