I'm looking for big things from Davonte this year! (also video interview)

[ClockworkOrange]

I think in some ways Davonte Gaines has become the forgotten man. I know with the crush of talent we have coming in, some are predicting a redshirt, but he really became a favorite of mine last season. He works incredibly hard and he's not afraid to mix it up with ANYONE. I think Davonte would man up Shaquille in his prime and be excited to do so! Yeah, he would get thrown into about the 17th row, but you'd see him right back out there after he climbed out of the seats, fighting for position, rebounds, defending with that length. When his offense (and weight, probably) catch up with his D, I really think he will be a big contributor.

Heck, I think he will be important to us THIS year. Thoughts?

 

[Chris4Vols22]

I never thought I would say something like this, but we have too many good players. I think any realistic rotation is going to exclude players who are able to make an impact.

 

[tnvols72]

I liked this kids play,he gives you a 100%

 

[PACKERVOL]

I think a redshirt year for Gaines and Pember might be best with the talent we have, and only one basketball. I see we have a 6' 9" 192 lb. freshman walk-on by the name of Cole Morris from Marietta (George Walton Comprehensive HS) on the roster. Along with Brock Jancek at 6' 8", that give us 10 extra fouls in the low post if we need them.

 

[Special Ed]

Isn't his first name Davonte?

 

[tmack50]

All you have to do is go back and look at the Arkansas game last year when he locked up their best scorer to the point where he wanted to fight Gaines. This kid will be a force in a year or 2.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I’m skeptical that Gaines will ever be a major contributor here, but I would happily be proven wrong. I think he has a lot of fight in him and plays with energy though. I’ll give him credit.

 

[Roustabout]

I’m skeptical that Gaines will ever be a major contributor here, but I would happily be proven wrong. I think he has a lot of fight in him and plays with energy though. I’ll give him credit.

Major? Probably not. But most of your roster aren’t “major” contributors. The fact is he’ll never have an SEC body. He has already been to prep school, so this is his 3rd year removed from HS. So, his impact will be limited, but he has talent.

 

[golfballs]

I’m skeptical that Gaines will ever be a major contributor here, but I would happily be proven wrong. I think he has a lot of fight in him and plays with energy though. I’ll give him credit.

Maybe his senior year if he’s still around

 

[The Dog]

I think a redshirt year for Gaines and Pember might be best with the talent we have, and only one basketball. I see we have a 6' 9" 192 lb. freshman walk-on by the name of Cole Morris from Marietta (George Walton Comprehensive HS) on the roster. Along with Brock Jancek at 6' 8", that give us 10 extra fouls in the low post if we need them.

TGO's burner, imo

 

[rcrrcr]

I think he red shirts and gains another 10 LBs and will have a good year next year. I could see him in a couple years playing at 200 or 205 and being a Dennis Rodman type player but with more offense. I think if Pember gains 25 lbs he could be a solid player. If he does not gain the weight, I see him transferring out because he will not play SEC basketball at 190.

 

[cncchris33]

I think he red shirts and gains another 10 LBs and will have a good year next year. I could see him in a couple years playing at 200 or 205 and being a Dennis Rodman type player but with more offense. I think if Pember gains 25 lbs he could be a solid player. If he does not gain the weight, I see him transferring out because he will not play SEC basketball at 190.

I question whether he has the frame to carry that kind of weight. He's so sleight and slendor.

 

[LucidZ]

I have to wonder who gets more playtime really. We've got a pretty loaded roster now. I will say that I really like Davonte though, I had been talking to him before he moved here. Excited to see him grow more. I would agree with some of the others in that maybe this is a redshirt year for him perhaps.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I think a redshirt year for Gaines and Pember might be best with the talent we have, and only one basketball. I see we have a 6' 9" 192 lb. freshman walk-on by the name of Cole Morris from Marietta (George Walton Comprehensive HS) on the roster. Along with Brock Jancek at 6' 8", that give us 10 extra fouls in the low post if we need them.

Everybody might be getting a redshirt year this season. Might as well play everybody.

 

[BruinVol]

He’s too good of a defender not to get minutes. He’ll get his 12-15 minutes in spots and rightfully so

 

[The Dog]

I love Gaines and think if he stays his whole career at UT, that he could be a borderline all-SEC type of player, before he graduates. With that being said, I don't see much more playing time, this year, than he had last year. UT is just loaded at his position. Keon is going to be a superstar and probably will be an one and done, imo. So, '21-'22 will be Gaines breakout year, once again, imo

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

I think a redshirt year for Gaines and Pember might be best with the talent we have, and only one basketball. I see we have a 6' 9" 192 lb. freshman walk-on by the name of Cole Morris from Marietta (George Walton Comprehensive HS) on the roster. Along with Brock Jancek at 6' 8", that give us 10 extra fouls in the low post if we need them.

We're going to need Gaines defense this year, he's too good defensively to not be used.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

We're going to need Gaines defense this year, he's too good defensively to not be used.

While he is a good defender his offense is pretty far behind, unfortunately for him Bailey/Springer/Johnson are all considered very good defenders as well and their offensive games are much further along than Gaines.

 

[walkenvol]

Gaines should either red shirt or hit the portal. Too talented to ride the bench but unfortunately he’s found himself in a crazy deep position where he’s not likely to get significant minutes this season. Love this guys potential but he needs minutes to develop.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Gaines should either red shirt or hit the portal. Too talented to ride the bench but unfortunately he’s found himself in a crazy deep position where he’s not likely to get significant minutes this season. Love this guys potential but he needs minutes to develop.

Why redshirt if this year doesn’t count towards eligibility which is expected to be the case?

 

[cncchris33]

While he is a good defender his offense is pretty far behind, unfortunately for him Bailey/Springer/Johnson are all considered very good defenders as well and their offensive games are much further along than Gaines.

This

 

[Ace]

Hopefully we are so far ahead in games that everyone gets to play

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

While he is a good defender his offense is pretty far behind, unfortunately for him Bailey/Springer/Johnson are all considered very good defenders as well and their offensive games are much further along than Gaines.

I'm not saying Gaines is going to play more than them, I'm saying that Gaines is a high quality on the ball defender playing for a defensive first minded coach, he's going to get some minutes and not redshirt.

 

[LeannaVol]

I'm not saying Gaines is going to play more than them, I'm saying that Gaines is a high quality on the ball defender playing for a defensive first minded coach, he's going to get some minutes and not redshirt.

I am also high on Gaines but imo he is stuck behind a bunch of super talented players further developed offensively than he that will almost certainly take up all the minutes at the 2 and 3. I wish he would red shirt but someone mentioned he may not be open to that possibility. Regardless I think he could be a key player in the 22 and 23 season. I think if he develops his offense he has NBA type potential.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I'm not saying Gaines is going to play more than them, I'm saying that Gaines is a high quality on the ball defender playing for a defensive first minded coach, he's going to get some minutes and not redshirt.

Barnes has shown in the past he prefers a smaller rotation, so in a 8-9 man rotation who is Gaines ahead of? Gaines ahead of Pember, ORN, Plavsic and Walker? Definitely possibly, but I would lean towards ORN getting more minutes.