2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

[StPeteVFL]

We have 3 spots left, or I think 4 if we part ways with 1 of the walk-ons. Not that we have to fill them all, but that's what we have room for. I'm not convinced that we are 100% committed to Hill as the PG if Barnes sees another one out there he likes.

Getting another center is essential IMO. Rubin is good, but we need another. Brown could play spot minutes at the 5, but I don't think that's ideal. I really wish Okpara could get an extra year. He's the perfect center for this system.

Obviously, Juke is the prize that takes us to another level of potential.

Bottom line, Juke & another center are the priority. Maybe a PG too if the opportunity presents. Ament would be icing on the cake.

I would actually prefer Brown at the 5 as opposed to the 4. I don’t see alot of forward skills in his game. He’s more of a true low block guy imo who can play spot minutes at the 4.

 

[sami]

He was anything but fine as indicated by the surgery. They don’t do surgery on people who are “fine.” Why they lingered in getting that done, I don’t know. I’m not saying he isn’t replaceable, but he definitely would have helped and been a guy to help set the culture. I’d have paid the money for Estrella and Evans, as a healthy Estrella takes you to another level. Evans was just a “Barnes” type player. I loved his game and was looking Forward to seeing him bloom.

Agree on Evans, but he was never going to return for less money and the kind of bench role he would have had here, especially if Juke is in, so it was really a non-starter, which is why he's gone.

Estrella does not fit where this roster is going. We are going to be a much different looking offensive team than the plodding, big-centric groups we have been used to here. Estrella is a traffic cone as a defender, and we need rim protection more than anything else from whatever bigs we are looking at. Rubin and Brown should provide enough post offense.

 

[cncchris33]

A 43 point difference isn't a slight increase. It's a massive difference in production

That isn't the point. What you're proposing is a false equivalence.

Yes, it is a massive difference in production because you are taking the one of the best players (in most cases) from their former team and putting them together on a single team. Some of those guys are going to see their production drop, maybe even quite significantly because they are competing with better players for a more limited number of scoring opportunities.

•Lundblade scored 15.6 ppg on 11 attempts.
•Ames scored 16.9 ppg on 13 attempts.
•Haralson scored 16.2 ppg on 11 attempts.
•Hill scored 15 ppg on 10 attempts.
•Rubin scored 11.3 ppg on 8 attempts.

That's 53 FGAs among 5 players. Our top 5 in FGAs last year (Ament, Gillespie, Estrella, Carey, and Okpara) averaged 46 FGAs. But that same group of players also averaged 60 ppg. At the same opportunity rate as the group coming in, they'd have averaged 69 ppg. Those 5 are really the group this bunch is coming in to replace...not our outgoing transfers (Estrella, Evans, Boswell, Carey, Phillips, and Massamba).

Again, I'm NOT disagreeing with your premise that we likely upgraded across the board. I'm just disagreeing with your method of proving it.

 

[StPeteVFL]

I’m of the belief that much like this year and previous years a really good defensive post can mask a lot of deficiencies with perimeter defense, again, we have multiple years of examples of this with Barnes. Also, if we’re gonna assume Juke for the sake of this conversation, where does adding another perimeter player who’s apparently elite defensively fit into this equation, not sure I see it? And finally, you have Manny Green coming in as a freshman who is very similar to the Amari build and player type, looks like a college junior body wise and is a really advanced defender.

We literally have zero examples of a Barnes team with no good perimeter defenders on it. He’s always had a Mashack, JJJ, Bowden, Turner, Keon, Boswell type of guy on the floor.

You are right it’s probably too late to address it now, I just really don’t like the Lundblade fit. Would have liked to seen that spot used differently. JMO.

 

[mrMet]

I don’t understand why you think we need an elite defensive big to round out the roster when we already have two good ones. Yet we have zero good perimeter defenders and you seem to care less about the defensive prowess on that front.

Are you of the belief that defense is only important in the post?

You’ve clearly never played ball and it shows with every post made

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Curious if any of these unsigned HS players having a change of heart...

Pretty positive Dylan Mingo won't be at UNC, his brother is now heading to Baylor.

USC Trojans have 2 bigs signed in Adonis & Darius Ratliff, but Collins is just a commit at this point and they have added Eric Reibe in the portal. Wonder if Collins is shopping around now has an offer from us already too.

A few others we offered that are officially signed.
Deron Rippey Jr - PG (Duke commit)
Brandon McCoy Jr - PG (Michigan commit)
Kayden Allen - CG (Georgia Tech commit)
Cody Peck - PF (Dayton commit)

 

[brockytop]

I was referring to the amount of posters ready to jump off the proverbial cliff if we aren't able to land this or that player, the reference to this as a failed portal haul, and the sudden pining away for a kid who averaged 6ppg and wouldn't shoot and a big who couldn't defend when he wasn't hurt.

The Tanner stuff is merely the cherry on top.

Oh, I know. I was being more sarcastic than anything.

I agree with your sentiments.

 

[StPeteVFL]

We literally have zero examples of a Barnes team with no good perimeter defenders on it. He’s always had a Mashack, JJJ, Bowden, Turner, Keon, Boswell type of guy on the floor.

You are right it’s probably too late to address it now, I just really don’t like the Lundblade fit. Would have liked to seen that spot used differently. JMO.

Now if we got Juke and Ament that would alleviate the concern for perimeter defense imo. Ament is really good on ball defender imo. Juke is solid based on the efficiency numbers.

 

[rowdyvolunteer]

We literally have zero examples of a Barnes team with no good perimeter defenders on it. He’s always had a Mashack, JJJ, Bowden, Turner, Keon, Boswell type of guy on the floor.

You are right it’s probably too late to address it now, I just really don’t like the Lundblade fit. Would have liked to seen that spot used differently. JMO.

We complain about guys not being able to shoot during the season, Barnes goes and get the second best shooter in the portal, we find something else to b*tch about. I swear these coaches can't win.

 

[StPeteVFL]

You’ve clearly never played ball and it shows with every post made

I played guard in high school and I know how much easier it is to operate when you’ve got a below average defender on you compared to a guy who is all over you and physical. Big difference.

 

[cncchris33]

When did he not have that black shoulder sleeve on? Played in 38 games last year and he was fine, but he was never some feared shot blocker or some feared shooter or some feared rebounder. He was fine. Nothing against the kid at all, but we didn’t miss him this past season and won’t miss him this season either

Not for nothing, but Cade had roughly the same amount of blocks per 100 possessions (3.6) as Felix Okpara (3.7) over the last two seasons. And he was 2 inches shorter and about 30 lbs lighter. He absolutely was a very good shot blocker. He just didn't get as many opportunities.

 

[rocketvol]

That isn't the point. What you're proposing is a false equivalence.

Yes, it is a massive difference in production because you are taking the one of the best players (in most cases) from their former team and putting them together on a single team. Some of those guys are going to see their production drop, maybe even quite significantly because they are competing with better players for a more limited number of scoring opportunities.

•Lundblade scored 15.6 ppg on 11 attempts.
•Ames scored 16.9 ppg on 13 attempts.
•Haralson scored 16.2 ppg on 11 attempts.
•Hill scored 15 ppg on 10 attempts.
•Rubin scored 11.3 ppg on 8 attempts.

That's 53 FGAs among 5 players. Our top 5 in FGAs last year (Ament, Gillespie, Estrella, Carey, and Okpara) averaged 46 FGAs. But that same group of players also averaged 60 ppg. At the same opportunity rate as the group coming in, they'd have averaged 69 ppg. Those 5 are really the group this bunch is coming in to replace...not our outgoing transfers (Estrella, Evans, Boswell, Phillips, and Massamba).

Again, I'm NOT disagreeing with your premise that we likely upgraded across the board. I'm just disagreeing with your method of proving it.

Bro...your rationale is no better. The guys we are bringing in are more effective shooters at getting shots off. Whereas someone like Bishop Boswell was sooo hesitant to shoot shots. Barnes is bringing in guys that know how and when to shoot to replace guys like Boswell who peed down their leg everytime they were open!

 

[bleedingTNorange]

We literally have zero examples of a Barnes team with no good perimeter defenders on it. He’s always had a Mashack, JJJ, Bowden, Turner, Keon, Boswell type of guy on the floor.

You are right it’s probably too late to address it now, I just really don’t like the Lundblade fit. Would have liked to seen that spot used differently. JMO.

We also have zero examples of a Barnes F4, so maybe trying a little different approach isn’t the worst idea? I would also be shocked if we don’t have someone on the roster that can match Boswell’s defense, I know it’ll take a real commitment to flopping and throwing your face at someone’s elbow and being shocked every time you’re called for a foul, but I have confidence!

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I can’t believe we’re actually having an legitimate argument whether or not we should have took one of the best three point shooters in the country while having a 93% FT percentage, considering we were complaining about not having enough shooters a month ago, all because he’s not a very good defender.

My how the narrative has shifted all the sudden.

Dumbest sh*t I’ve ever read on here.

 

[cncchris33]

Bro...your rationale is no better. The guys we are bringing in are more effective shooters at getting shots off. Whereas someone like Bishop Boswell was sooo hesitant to shoot shots. Barnes is bringing in guys that know how and when to shoot to replace guys like Boswell who peed down their leg everytime they were open!

Bro...that has nothing to do with anything I said. I never questioned any of their shot effectiveness. Obviously they are all more effective than Bishop Boswell. That's the very type of player they were brought in to replace and why we paid them instead of Bishop Boswell. Did you even read my post?

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I'll just say with Barnes & staff I'd take my chance with taking great athletic offensive players and developing their defensive game. Especially for perimeter guys.

Hill, Ames, Haralson and even Lundblade will all get better defensively as Vols. We have added some raw talent with the HS players too that all have better size/length than the guys they are replacing.

Scott is 6'8"
Washington Jr is 6'9"
Green is 6'6"
Clark is 6'1"

Scott and Washington Jr. are both higher rated than any player on this past roster except for Ament.

 

[rowdyvolunteer]

I can’t believe we’re actually having an legitimate argument whether or not we should have took one of the best three point shooters in the country while having a 93% FT percentage, considering we were complaining about not having enough shooters a month ago, all because he’s not a very good defender.

My how the narrative has shifted all the sudden.

Dumbest sh*t I’ve ever read on here.

When people say stuff like not bringing in one of the better three point shooters it tells me the basketball intelligence this fanbase has. The narrative if that kid would have made it to campus and committed elsewhere is Barnes couldn't close. Its a lose lose situation for Barnes and co with some of the fanbase.

 

[brockytop]

difference is these guys averaged 16-17 points doing this in the ACC, and A10 conference. Big time jump from Hofstra.

It all depends on the player. Look where Knecht and Lanier came from.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Not saying Lundblade will be another Dalton or Chaz...the roster he's joining has far more offensive weapons than either DK or Chaz joined.

BUT, it is worth pointing out shooters, shoot.

Chaz at North Florida shot 48% FG, 40.7% 3PT, 86.4% FT at Vols 43.1% FG, 39.5% 3PT, 75.8% FT
Dalton at Northern Colorado shot 46.4% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 76.5% FT at Vols 45.8% FG, 39.7% 3PT, 77.2% FT

Lundblade at Belmont shot 45.6% FG, 43.9% 3PT, 93.8% FT...he may not get up 11 shots a game, but those % won't suddenly vanish.

 

[rowdyvolunteer]

It all depends on the player. Look where Knecht and Lanier came from.

I get that, but my point is these kids were playing top level talent every night. Will they all average what they averaged at the previous school probably not because they aren't going to take as many shots, but this lineup (assuming Juke is here), has 2-3 guys that can go for 20 every night. We haven't had that in the past at all. We had one dude and expected them to win us the game from a pure scoring standpoint. I think Nate had a spurt where he was really helping Kobi and then he got hurt so it was back to Kobi being the only scorer. This team already has multiple guys that can get buckets, plus a sharpshooter that can get hot and hit 5 threes just like that. I absolutely love the makeup of the team, it should force Barnes hand a bit as well on improving our pace and running in transition (where I thought we were best at last year, just limited doing it).

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Tyler Tanner stands us up and now we’ve got the board at each other’s throats over defense. Certainly a vibe shift on here from Sunday.

 

[wtmvol]

Tyler Tanner stands us up and now we’ve got the board at each other’s throats over defense. Certainly a vibe shift on here from Sunday.

Personally, the most fun team I remember watching from the Barnes era was the 2019 team. Coincidentally, it was by far the worst defensive team that we've seen in the Barnes era that made the tournament. I'd like to see us be able to get the ball in the basket again.

 

[brockytop]

I can’t believe we’re actually having an legitimate argument whether or not we should have took one of the best three point shooters in the country while having a 93% FT percentage, considering we were complaining about not having enough shooters a month ago, all because he’s not a very good defender.

My how the narrative has shifted all the sudden.

Dumbest sh*t I’ve ever read on here.

Without having a clue of anything else in a particular game this past season you could just about look at how TN shot FTs and know whether or not they won or lost.

If they shot above 70%—win. If they shot below 70%—loss.

 

[brockytop]

Tyler Tanner stands us up and now we’ve got the board at each other’s throats over defense. Certainly a vibe shift on here from Sunday.

You knuckleheads stood your own selves up. Don’t blame Tanner for it.

 

[Dougie_D]

I'm just curious... but were we building a roster to surround Juke? And if we don't land Juke what will this look like? For instance it just felt past years we got a transfer/portal player OR top recruit that became our central core for our offense. Dalton, Lanier, Nate, etc... SF or SG. They all seem to be our main offense. Who would that be if we don't land Juke. Obviously if we get Juke we all know the offense will kinda run through him.