Why is everyone sleeping on our incoming freshmen?

[volsack7]

Almost all the buzz is going toward our transfer portal class, and rightfully so. But Barnes has proven he is not afraid to play freshmen, and we have a few pretty good ones incoming. I could see at least one or two getting some meaningful minutes. Thoughts?

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

The game appears to be going to an older more experienced roster.

 

[vols 30]

Hard to get too excited knowing there's good chance they'll hit the portal after a year maybe two

 

[livefaith]

None of them are super high rated, and since most know little to nothing about them outside of near worthless highlight videos ... it's just hard to tell. Hopefully we can keep them around for 2 years and try to develop them.

 

[Namorto1]

Almost all the buzz is going toward our transfer portal class, and rightfully so. But Barnes has proven he is not afraid to play freshmen, and we have a few pretty good ones incoming. I could see at least one or two getting some meaningful minutes. Thoughts?

I like our frosh class too, but all things considered (especially if we get Juke Harris in the fold), if any of our freshman are getting meaningful minutes than something went wrong. Only have 200 minutes to spread around and players like Harris, Hill, Lundblade, Ames, Haralson, Rubin, Brown and Lue are probably going to eat most of those minutes. I would think all our main perimeter guys and Haralson merit 28-30 minutes per game. And our post guys 20-25 minutes per game. Lue is the wild card to me. If he gets more minutes, it will be at the expense of Brown or Haralson.

Clark is the least regarded one of the freshman bunch, but he possibly could earn the most run simply due to the fact that we lack PG depth and Henderson's injury is questionable. But that won't occur if Ames can spell Hill for 10 minutes per game at PG. All this changes if Juke Harris doesn't come because he will command at minimum 30 minutes per game (**note he averaged 35 per game at Wake Forest). If that doesn't occur than I could see a handful of frosh get minutes consistently.

 

[TNRazor]

It really is a good class, I think Washington and maybe Scott can contribute right away. The transfer portal class is just so good, they overshadow them a little bit

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

It really is a good class, I think Washington and maybe Scott can contribute right away. The transfer portal class is just so good, they overshadow them a little bit

Think Clark the point guard from
Chicago is way underrated, don’t be suprised he gets some minor minutes at least

 

[DMcVol]

Nobody expected much from Brown or Evans so I wouldn’t assume none of the 4 will play much…Had he not hurt his shoulder, I think Henderson would have played more too…

 

[Butch s]

Almost all the buzz is going toward our transfer portal class, and rightfully so. But Barnes has proven he is not afraid to play freshmen, and we have a few pretty good ones incoming. I could see at least one or two getting some meaningful minutes. Thoughts?

Recruiting means absolutely nothing these days

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Nobody expected much from Brown or Evans so I wouldn’t assume none of the 4 will play much…Had he not hurt his shoulder, I think Henderson would have played more too…

I think we’ll see the 4 of them play quite a bit early on just like Barnes does every year in the non-conference. Barring injury though, I’m not sure they’ll get a lot of run in conference play. We really do need Chris Washington Jr. to be a stud though because our front court needs every body it can get.

 

[JRVOL11]

it’s kind of hard to get really excited about a freshman these days with the portal & stuff unless they are very high rated. i do think at least one of them will be a solid contributor, which would be a cherry on top for this loaded team.

 

[Jean-Claude van Manning]

I actually think Manny Green ans Marquis Clark have a good shot to find a role.

Clark for his true PG skills/ball handling.

And Manny Green because of his physicality and defensive ability. Barnes has gone all-in on offense, but he still is who he is and will not be afraid to reward guys who work on defense.

 

[UTFranklinVol]

my new motto across basketball and football is that you won't win championships with the freshman you recruit. Someone else will.

there are two levels to the sports now, the players you recruit and train that end up hitting the portal and the players who are already trained and proven winners you get from the portal.

the portal players are the ones you win your titles with now.

you may get lucky every 5 years or so and get a once in a generation rookie player but the odds against it are astronomically high. there are too many things stacked against them

1. Injury
2. Competition from other more experienced players
3. Bad star rankings/you aren't cut out for big time college ball yet
4. You think you're worth more money than you really are

 

[CamVol8]

my new motto across basketball and football is that you won't win championships with the freshman you recruit. Someone else will.

there are two levels to the sports now, the players you recruit and train that end up hitting the portal and the players who are already trained and proven winners you get from the portal.

the portal players are the ones you win your titles with now.

Agreed

 

[ChadwicksFumble]

They will transfer. You can't develop freshmen anymore.

 

[StickMan]

It really is a good class, I think Washington and maybe Scott can contribute right away. The transfer portal class is just so good, they overshadow them a little bit

I sure hope they can contribute right away. Most likely the only year they'll be with the Vols. You have to consider every player a one and done now. Of course, the dilemma is developing them for a likely competitor the following year.

 

[GSPVol]

Almost all the buzz is going toward our transfer portal class, and rightfully so. But Barnes has proven he is not afraid to play freshmen, and we have a few pretty good ones incoming. I could see at least one or two getting some meaningful minutes. Thoughts?

Because it a huge jump for almost any HS kid to really contribute against SEC bodies. Even our one and dones have struggled early or hit walls. Even Ament went through a period. None of our freshmen are anywhere near his talent level so they're destined for spot duty unless someone or two get injured.

 

[ColinS]

Freshman are essentially your scout team these days. You might find one or two that you lean on a little but if they are playing a bunch of important minutes then your in trouble. This, of course does not include the Ament types but most of those players are playing for the blue bloods.

 

[butchna]

That freshman who kicked butt in the Patriot Conference is your top 5 recruit these days.

 

[TNRazor]

They will transfer. You can't develop freshmen anymore.

Henderson and Brown said hi

 

[SlyStone]

I believe you'll start seeing a trend of HS kids going to mid major schools, work on their game for a year or two, have more TV exposure then hit the portal to get more NIL money in the long run at a Power school.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

Freshman are essentially your scout team these days. You might find one or two that you lean on a little but if they are playing a bunch of important minutes then your in trouble. This, of course does not include the Ament types but most of those players are playing for the blue bloods.

Or we a blue blood now. ? Asking

 

[BreatheUT]

Henderson and Brown said hi

Lol...you're kidding, right?

 

[TNRazor]

Lol...you're kidding, right?

Brown was a,solid contributor and should do a lot more this year. Go troll somewhere else.

 

[kckempf]

Brown was a,solid contributor and should do a lot more this year. Go troll somewhere else.

I think he'll be a sophomore, though.