Coming off their second straight Elite Eight and amidst losing a ton of talent, Tennessee Basketball has already made moves in the transfer portal. Rick Barnes added high-profile Maryland Terrapins transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who could immediately step in at point guard, and Vanderbilt Commodores transfer forward Jaylen Carey.
However, with five of their six main rotational players gone from this past year and a desire for more depth, the Vols still have plenty of work to do. Barnes is clearly aware of that and is in the process of targeting multiple other transfers. Among those on the Vols’ radar, here is a ranking of who is most important to land based on their talent, UT’s need and how seriously they are considering Tennessee basketball.
4. Ian Jackson, SG – North Carolina
With Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey both gone, the Vols clearly need more help at shooting guard, even with Bishop Boswell returning. Last year, Ian Jackson averaged 11.9 points as a freshman with the Tar Heels, so he’d be a perfect fit at 6’4″ 190 pounds. Being an efficient shooter at 39.5 percent from three only adds to that.
However, Jackson’s top two schools seem to be very clearly the St. John’s Red Storm and the N.C. State Wolfpack, so UT will have a difficult time landing him, even though he is on their radar. Talent would put Jackson at the top of this list or at least second, but the Vols’ chances of landing him put him here.
3. Rakease Passmore, SG – Kansas
Another shooting guard who could fill the void for Tennessee basketball, Rakease Passmore did not really play for the Jayhawks this past year as a freshman, unlike Jackson. However, he has potential, even if he is a four-star in the portal while Jackson is a five-star, and now he has experience, having played 23 games this past year.
Reportedly, the two are working on a visit this week, so Passmore is a very realistic option for the Vols to land. He stands at 6’5″ 185 pounds. With more height, than Jackson, he would just need to put on more weight and could immediately work his way into the rotation for UT next year, even if he doesn’t start.
2. Rodney Rice, SG – Maryland
This is by far the most likely two-guard for the Vols to land. Rice was a teammate of Gillespie’s with the Terps, which is just part of why he is a realistic option for Tennessee basketball. He also is visiting UT, and the Vols are now a favorite to land him, so he obviously makes sense as somebody for them to target hard.
In terms of production, Rice is a better fit for Barnes because of his experience and what he’s done. At 6’4″ 198 pounds, he averaged 13.8 points per game last year and shot 37.4 percent from three. With two years of college under his belt, he’s likely to buy into what Barnes is coaching, so honestly, he could directly replace Lanier.
1. Elyjah Freeman, SF – Lincoln Memorial
Obviously, the best results for Barnes in the transfer portal the past couple of years have involved players at smaller schools ready to take that next leap. Why not go the Division II route this time? Playing for the Railsplitters as a true freshman, Elyjah Freeman averaged over 19 points a game and shot an incredible 46.3 percent from three.
With Jahmai Mashack and Darlinstone Dubar gone, Tennessee Basketball needs a wing more than anybody else right now, and Freeman could fill that void immediately. He could be what Dubar was unable to be this past year due to underlying circumstances. The need for a wing and UT’s history make Freeman the top player the Vols are targeting, and like Rice, he already has a visit lined up.
