2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[cncchris33]

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.

In fairness to Barnes and staff, that is still just one side of the story, and frankly the side with the most to lose if another version of events were to surface. Barnes will just move on to the next one way or another. I do find it peculiar that she holds the belief that Barnes and staff were holding him back at the team's expense. That seems counterproductive for everyone, so that is probably quite an embellishment and I'd bet dollars to donuts that there are other factors that she's omitting from their narrative.

In any case, good luck to him and we'll be ok.

 

[JelloPuddinPup]

In fairness to Barnes and staff, that is still just one side of the story, and frankly the side with the most to lose if another version of events were to surface. Barnes will just move on to the next one way or another. I do find it peculiar that she holds the belief that Barnes and staff were holding him back at the team's expense. That seems counterproductive for everyone, so that is probably quite an embellishment and I'd bet dollars to donuts that there are other factors that she's omitting from their narrative.

In any case, good luck to him and we'll be ok.

Being "top 3" in stats at practice doesn't say much either. Are they the stats that the team values? Do they keep defensive stats too? Is she referring to the whole statistical spectrum or just the ones they cherry picked?

I just have to agree with you that Barnes wouldn't hold back someone that could help the team win games if the player was doing what and how they asked them to. I do wish him well though.

 

[Vol49er]

In fairness to Barnes and staff, that is still just one side of the story, and frankly the side with the most to lose if another version of events were to surface. Barnes will just move on to the next one way or another. I do find it peculiar that she holds the belief that Barnes and staff were holding him back at the team's expense. That seems counterproductive for everyone, so that is probably quite an embellishment and I'd bet dollars to donuts that there are other factors that she's omitting from their narrative.

In any case, good luck to him and we'll be ok.

Summed up my thoughts perfectly. Disgruntled player’s parents thinking the guy getting 10 minutes a game is actually not only a model student athlete but also an All SEC player if only the coach would stop sabotaging his own team by not playing him is very unsurprising

 

[Chaz-Vol]

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.

Right, there was never much doubt why Carr left. Obviously he and his family felt slighted by Barnes and staff that he didn't play enough and get enough touches. Barnes must have felt he hadn't earned it. But any guy leaving the number one team in the country mid season and team that went to elite 8 tells you what you need to know about Carr plus family.

 

[NighthawkVol]

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.

Thanks for sharing.

But that doesn’t explain why he left mid-season. He gained nothing from doing that and quit on his team. He could’ve stuck it out and fought for minutes…which likely would’ve come with all the injuries we had. And he’d be the front runner to start at the 2 next year.

But at the end of the day, I’m glad he left. Culture is important in this program and a kid who quits isn’t good for culture.

 

[volinexile17]

He wanted to play. Coaches thought he wasn’t ready. Nothing novel here.

 

[Skooter]

Phillips cannot make an outside shot...his whole off. was around the basket...his FT % was below 60%...he might can guard a few wings but this guy cannot perform his best outside the paint!

Cade actually has a nice natural release and started shooting a ton of 3s since the season ended. Barnes told him it was up to him to work on it and be able to hit them, so Cade took it as a challenge.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

Being "top 3" in stats at practice doesn't say much either. Are they the stats that the team values? Do they keep defensive stats too? Is she referring to the whole statistical spectrum or just the ones they cherry picked?

I just have to agree with you that Barnes wouldn't hold back someone that could help the team win games if the player was doing what and how they asked them to. I do wish him well though.

Pretty much every Offensive stat...not defensive

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

Thanks for sharing.

But that doesn’t explain why he left mid-season. He gained nothing from doing that and quit on his team. He could’ve stuck it out and fought for minutes…which likely would’ve come with all the injuries we had. And he’d be the front runner to start at the 2 next year.

But at the end of the day, I’m glad he left. Culture is important in this program and a kid who quits isn’t good for culture.

He retained his sophomore eligibility with a medical redshirt... only 3 games played that year before injury. And would have been hard to work his way back into big meaningful minutes after that. Yeah the game before injury he shot 75% with great productivity and the game he got injured he was 1-1 before going out...

I just really wish he would have stayed. He would have helped us a lot by staying. I'm not in any way saying the decision was the best move, other than securing that extra year...

 

[walkenvol]

He retained his sophomore eligibility with a medical redshirt... only 3 games played that year before injury. And would have been hard to work his way back into big meaningful minutes after that. Yeah the game before injury he shot 75% with great productivity and the game he got injured he was 1-1 before going out...

I just really wish he would have stayed. He would have helped us a lot by staying. I'm not in any way saying the decision was the best move, other than securing that extra year...

Obviously we’re all just guessing here, but it sounds like if he hadn’t been injured he would have stayed last season and either his PT would have increased or plateaued which would have determined whether he returned this season. She paints CRB as being somewhat inaccessible which goes against most everything else we’ve read the past 10 years? Just like with Tobe, good luck to him and wish he would have stuck around.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

He retained his sophomore eligibility with a medical redshirt... only 3 games played that year before injury. And would have been hard to work his way back into big meaningful minutes after that. Yeah the game before injury he shot 75% with great productivity and the game he got injured he was 1-1 before going out...

I just really wish he would have stayed. He would have helped us a lot by staying. I'm not in any way saying the decision was the best move, other than securing that extra year...

Extra year probably ends up being worthless when the switch to the flat 5 to play 5 system in a few months…

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

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.

Sorry...not buying this story - didn't believe it when Cam blindsided everyone and not believing it now. So, we are supposed to believe a future HOF coach just couldn't "see him" even though he was balling out in practice. They can believe and say whatever they wish but CRB is notoriously honest with his players about where they stand and what they need to do to improve/play. Also, to my knowledge, CRB has always been accessible to his players so, if he would not meet with Cam, CRB had a good reason(s) and wasn't going to entertain any foolishness at that point imo.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

In fairness to Barnes and staff, that is still just one side of the story, and frankly the side with the most to lose if another version of events were to surface. Barnes will just move on to the next one way or another. I do find it peculiar that she holds the belief that Barnes and staff were holding him back at the team's expense. That seems counterproductive for everyone, so that is probably quite an embellishment and I'd bet dollars to donuts that there are other factors that she's omitting from their narrative.

In any case, good luck to him and we'll be ok.

100%

It's absurd they are still going with this narrative. Wish Cam well but he screwed up in some form or fashion which is why CRB wouldn't meet with him imo and his parents certainly know it but won't admit it.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Being "top 3" in stats at practice doesn't say much either. Are they the stats that the team values? Do they keep defensive stats too? Is she referring to the whole statistical spectrum or just the ones they cherry picked?

I just have to agree with you that Barnes wouldn't hold back someone that could help the team win games if the player was doing what and how they asked them to. I do wish him well though.

If he was truly 1 of the best 3 players we would have seen him playing. When we did see him play he was nowhere near 1 of the Top 3 players - completely absurd.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Thanks for sharing.

But that doesn’t explain why he left mid-season. He gained nothing from doing that and quit on his team. He could’ve stuck it out and fought for minutes…which likely would’ve come with all the injuries we had. And he’d be the front runner to start at the 2 next year.

But at the end of the day, I’m glad he left. Culture is important in this program and a kid who quits isn’t good for culture.

x 1,000

 

[rockytop25]

Thanks for sharing.

But that doesn’t explain why he left mid-season. He gained nothing from doing that and quit on his team. He could’ve stuck it out and fought for minutes…which likely would’ve come with all the injuries we had. And he’d be the front runner to start at the 2 next year.

But at the end of the day, I’m glad he left. Culture is important in this program and a kid who quits isn’t good for culture.

What makes no sense about the whole situation, he/his family talks about wanting to play, so they transfer in the middle of the year when he has no shot to play?

Hindsight is 20/20 but he would've played a ton when he came back from injuries and most likely would be our starting 2 guard this year.

 

[Derek Reese's jumpshot]

The facts that he even considered quitting mid season and his parents clearly baby him means he wasn't a good fit and didn't have what it takes to play here.

 

[walkenvol]

The facts that he even considered quitting mid season and his parents clearly baby him means he wasn't a good fit and didn't have what it takes to play here.

Without judging him, it’s pretty clear to me he left to preserve the medical RS for last season as I doubt CRB would have agreed for him to sit for the rest of the season once the medical staff cleared him. At that time, the 5 to play 5 was only a rumor. Now that doesn’t mean there wasn’t another reason for his departure also.

 

[rowdyvolunteer]

The facts that he even considered quitting mid season and his parents clearly baby him means he wasn't a good fit and didn't have what it takes to play here.

This. Quitting on your team mid season is all you need to know. Not bad mouthing him at all wish him the best but you don’t quit on your team mid season regardless how you feel about things.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

Sorry...not buying this story - didn't believe it when Cam blindsided everyone and not believing it now. So, we are supposed to believe a future HOF coach just couldn't "see him" even though he was balling out in practice. They can believe and say whatever they wish but CRB is notoriously honest with his players about where they stand and what they need to do to improve/play. Also, to my knowledge, CRB has always been accessible to his players so, if he would not meet with Cam, CRB had a good reason(s) and wasn't going to entertain any foolishness at that point imo.

Yes CRB's reasons center around the Senior depth at Cam Carrs positions ahead of him: Jordan Gainey, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack & add the 34ish guard minutes by Zakai Zeigler - Cam Carr and his family truly felt that way... it's just their perspective and they know the majority of nba hype centers around incoming youth , not incoming 22-24 year olds... Cam Carr was on watch by NBA scouts and real intrigued by his skill set, offensive game, 2 way potential & especially his wingspan / measurements.

Defensively he was no where close to Gainey or Mashack at that wing spot & no way he's playing ahead of Lanier either...

So when they say "see him" - their perspective is the defense 1st took a major front seat to everything Cam Carr could have helped out with... this is just me seeing there perspective, so when they say 2 wasted years of eligibility - that means his youth is being spent without nba scouts having much to go off of or any good sample size against top ncaa competition.

He was primed to thrive here - but they were thinking let's get to a place where we can prove our worth sooner & get a bigger bag, more nil & nba draft stock.
I see their point of view & it's clear the Vol hoopers still support & love Cam...

I also understand why Cam will never be considered a VFL & why the coaches were upset. They were looking forward to his return... but if you remember even before he returned from injury coach Barnes publicly stated in an interview how there would be no guaranteed playing time for Cam Carr as he returned. That it would pretty much be a battle to get back into rotation as the SEC started. So him & his parents are thinking... OK let's retain this year and not have it all spent on the bench with already half of the year over with anyway. I see both sides. A family trying to play it smart & a coaching staff & fan base let down. The situation sucked!

Some seen Cam as NBA ready / offensively, some seen Cam as a backup to really good senior depth. Neither is wrong. We seen Justin Powell get nba time with the Cavs & do well at his other college stops due to his offensive skill set - however he wasn't Vol material defensively and that's no secret... sometimes it's about finding the right system & coaching style for you. And that's what a lot of these young people look for.

 

[cncchris33]

Yes CRB's reasons center around the Senior depth at Cam Carrs positions ahead of him: Jordan Gainey, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack & add the 34ish guard minutes by Zakai Zeigler - Cam Carr and his family truly felt that way... it's just their perspective and they know the majority of nba hype centers around incoming youth , not incoming 22-24 year olds... Cam Carr was on watch by NBA scouts and real intrigued by his skill set, offensive game, 2 way potential & especially his wingspan / measurements.

Defensively he was no where close to Gainey or Mashack at that wing spot & no way he's playing ahead of Lanier either...

So when they say "see him" - their perspective is the defense 1st took a major front seat to everything Cam Carr could have helped out with... this is just me seeing there perspective, so when they say 2 wasted years of eligibility - that means his youth is being spent without nba scouts having much to go off of or any good sample size against top ncaa competition.

He was primed to thrive here - but they were thinking let's get to a place where we can prove our worth sooner & get a bigger bag, more nil & nba draft stock.
I see their point of view & it's clear the Vol hoopers still support & love Cam...

I also understand why Cam will never be considered a VFL & why the coaches were upset. They were looking forward to his return... but if you remember even before he returned from injury coach Barnes publicly stated and interviews how there would be no guaranteed playing time for Cam Carr as he returned. So him & his parents are thinking. OK let's retain this year and not have it all spent on the bench with already half of the year over with anyway. I see both sides. A family trying to play it smart & a coaching staff & fan base let down. The situation sucked!

Then it really begs the question; why did he come to Tennessee in the first place? It isn't a closely kept secret that Barnes demands defense from everyone. He demanded it from Knecht and Lanier, too, while both were primarily offense players. If Carr and family didn't know defense would be prioritized, they didn't do their research.

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

Then it really begs the question; why did he come to Tennessee in the first place? It isn't a closely kept secret that Barnes demands defense from everyone. He demanded it from Knecht and Lanier, too, while both were primarily offense players. If Carr and family didn't know defense would be prioritized, they didn't do their research.

Knecht & Lanier were mature 20+ year olds with a good amount of college experience & they both came into ncaa "not the man" - they verbally and publicly wanted to get better defensively & raise draft stock at TN. The maturity level there is incomparable, they had to grind it out just to be known in the basketball world in their 20's. And they Both successfully did that at TN.
Compare that to a high school national champion who had nba talent teammates in high school and was seen as a huge prospect coming into college & in the limelight from powerhouse Link Academy. Some guys "Bet on themselves" like Zeigler says... despite how many seniors are ahead of them ... and they believe they won't fall way back in the rotation behind seniors... we seen the same thing with FAD Freddie Dilione. He's good, real good! Wasn't as ready to help the Vols as much as the defensive juggernaut seniors & Juniors ahead of him at TN.

It just is what it is. It takes a special type of young freshman to come in and really make an impact in our system. You have to live up to the defensive standards regardless of how good you are in other areas. And we seen that manifested with Chandler, jjj, Keon, Springer, Julian, zeigler etc as freshmen...all good defensive freshmen

 

[cncchris33]

Knecht & Lanier were mature 20+ year olds with a good amount of college experience & they both came into ncaa "not the man" - they verbally and publicly wanted to get better defensively & raise draft stock at TN. The maturity level there is incomparable, they had to grind it out just to be known in the basketball world in their 20's. And they Both successfully did that at TN.
Compare that to a high school national champion who had nba talent teammates in high school and was seen as a huge prospect coming into college & in the limelight from powerhouse Link Academy. Some guys "Bet on themselves" like Zeigler says... despite how many seniors are ahead of them ... and they believe they won't fall way back in the rotation behind seniors... we seen the same thing with FAD Freddie Dilione. He's good, real good! Wasn't as ready to help the Vols as much as the defensive juggernaut seniors & Juniors ahead of him at TN.

It just is what it is. It takes a special type of young freshman to come in and really make an impact in our system. You have to live up to the defensive standards regardless of how good you are in other areas. And we seen that manifested with Chandler, jjj, Keon, Springer, Julian, zeigler etc as freshmen...all good defensive freshmen

You're missing the mark with my post. I only used Knecht and Lanier as examples of high level offensive players who Barnes still demanded they play defense. Not trying to compare them, their ability, or their mindset for coming to Tennessee with Carr.

Your second paragraph is in line with my thinking, though. I just don’t understand why Carr thought his offense was enough to carry him thru to more playing time for Rick Barnes.

 

[YankeeVol]

Some seen Cam as NBA ready / offensively, some seen Cam as a backup to really good senior depth. Neither is wrong. We seen Justin Powell get nba time with the Cavs & do well at his other college stops due to his offensive skill set - however he wasn't Vol material defensively and that's no secret... sometimes it's about finding the right system & coaching style for you. And that's what a lot of these young people look for.

I don't see any NBA stats, just G League

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

I don't see any NBA stats, just G League

He was on the Cavs roster at one point. And that alone is really hard to do. My point was just because someone falls back in the rotation at Tennessee it doesn't mean they are not really good basketball players. It could just be a wrong fit