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Tennessee basketball is floating in uncharted waters as it navigates losses in the transfer portal.
Six players from the 2025-26 roster have entered the transfer portal, including five who all announced on April 6. Starting guard Bishop Boswell and forward J.P. Estrella are the biggest losses, followed by rotation forward Jaylen Carey.
With senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie and senior center Felix Okpara out of eligibility, and freshman forward Nate Ament likely headed for the 2026 NBA Draft, Tennessee could be down to just three scholarship players returning for the 2026-27 season. Sophomore guard Ethan Burg, freshman guard Amari Evans and freshman forward DeWayne Brown II are still on the roster.
This is new territory for coach Rick Barnes. Throughout his 11 years at UT, the Vols have returned a minimum of seven players each season. In 2018, 12 players carried over from the previous season.
Barnes will also have to find a new starting group. Since coming to Tennessee, he has had at least one starter come back each season. In 2017-18, he had the entire starting group return. They achieved a No. 3 seed in the Men's NCAA Tournament and lost to No. 11 Loyola (Chicago) in the second round.
Tennessee fell in its third consecutive Elite Eight appearance to Michigan, who beat UConn in the national championship game on April 6.
In the new era of college athletics, Michigan's unbothered run to its second national title suggested that continuity may be overrated.
The Wolverines' entire starting lineup was pieced together through the transfer portal. Their four leading scorers were all transfers. Freshman guard Trey McKenney, a McDonald's All-American, was fifth.
As Tennessee once again constructs a roster it hopes will break through to the program's first Final Four, following Michigan's blueprint could be a viable option.
The Vols' top six players are likely gone with Ament's decision pending. That's a combined 66.7 points, 31.2 rebounds and 13.4 assists per game that the Vols will have to replace in the portal.
While it's a substantial loss, Barnes has the freedom to shape his new roster in a variety of ways. Tennessee started by adding Belmont graduate transfer Tyler Lundblade, which gives the Vols a significant outside shooting boost they didn't have last season.
Burg and Evans provided solid defense and a bit of ball-handling off the bench, but Tennessee will need a lead guard to replace Gillespie's playmaking ability. Gillespie was the team's leading scorer and its top facilitator as the whole offense flowed through him.
Ament was the Vols' go-to scorer particularly in tight moments. He was one of their only players who could create his own basket.
Tennessee will also need a new frontcourt. Brown showed a lot of promise as a freshman, but he's the only remaining forward on the roster. Okpara was one of the best shot blockers in the country, and Estrella and Carey augmented the Vols' rebounding prowess as one of the best in the country, especially on the offensive end.
Carey, a 6-8 junior, averaged 7.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He had 103 offensive rebounds, which is the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
Carey began his career at James Madison, then transferred to Vanderbilt before coming to Tennessee.
Troy Henderson, a 6-1 freshman guard, entered the transfer portal on April 7. He appeared in 28 games and averaged 1.8 points and 1.0 assists.
Henderson was used sparingly in SEC play after suffering a shoulder injury on Jan. 24. The injury kept Henderson out of a few games and Barnes later confirmed Henderson would need offseason surgery.
The Vols also still have three incoming high school recruits. Ralph Scott, a 6-8 forward, and 6-6 guard Manny Green are two four-star prospects who signed with Tennessee, and 6-1 guard Marquis Clark could fit right into Henderson's role.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: [email protected]
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks: knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball roster turnover has never been like this for Rick Barnes
Continue reading...
Six players from the 2025-26 roster have entered the transfer portal, including five who all announced on April 6. Starting guard Bishop Boswell and forward J.P. Estrella are the biggest losses, followed by rotation forward Jaylen Carey.
With senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie and senior center Felix Okpara out of eligibility, and freshman forward Nate Ament likely headed for the 2026 NBA Draft, Tennessee could be down to just three scholarship players returning for the 2026-27 season. Sophomore guard Ethan Burg, freshman guard Amari Evans and freshman forward DeWayne Brown II are still on the roster.
This is new territory for coach Rick Barnes. Throughout his 11 years at UT, the Vols have returned a minimum of seven players each season. In 2018, 12 players carried over from the previous season.
Barnes will also have to find a new starting group. Since coming to Tennessee, he has had at least one starter come back each season. In 2017-18, he had the entire starting group return. They achieved a No. 3 seed in the Men's NCAA Tournament and lost to No. 11 Loyola (Chicago) in the second round.
What could Tennessee, Rick Barnes learn from Michigan?
Tennessee fell in its third consecutive Elite Eight appearance to Michigan, who beat UConn in the national championship game on April 6.
In the new era of college athletics, Michigan's unbothered run to its second national title suggested that continuity may be overrated.
The Wolverines' entire starting lineup was pieced together through the transfer portal. Their four leading scorers were all transfers. Freshman guard Trey McKenney, a McDonald's All-American, was fifth.
As Tennessee once again constructs a roster it hopes will break through to the program's first Final Four, following Michigan's blueprint could be a viable option.
What does Tennessee basketball need in the portal?
The Vols' top six players are likely gone with Ament's decision pending. That's a combined 66.7 points, 31.2 rebounds and 13.4 assists per game that the Vols will have to replace in the portal.
While it's a substantial loss, Barnes has the freedom to shape his new roster in a variety of ways. Tennessee started by adding Belmont graduate transfer Tyler Lundblade, which gives the Vols a significant outside shooting boost they didn't have last season.
Burg and Evans provided solid defense and a bit of ball-handling off the bench, but Tennessee will need a lead guard to replace Gillespie's playmaking ability. Gillespie was the team's leading scorer and its top facilitator as the whole offense flowed through him.
Ament was the Vols' go-to scorer particularly in tight moments. He was one of their only players who could create his own basket.
Tennessee will also need a new frontcourt. Brown showed a lot of promise as a freshman, but he's the only remaining forward on the roster. Okpara was one of the best shot blockers in the country, and Estrella and Carey augmented the Vols' rebounding prowess as one of the best in the country, especially on the offensive end.
Carey, a 6-8 junior, averaged 7.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He had 103 offensive rebounds, which is the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
Carey began his career at James Madison, then transferred to Vanderbilt before coming to Tennessee.
Troy Henderson, a 6-1 freshman guard, entered the transfer portal on April 7. He appeared in 28 games and averaged 1.8 points and 1.0 assists.
Henderson was used sparingly in SEC play after suffering a shoulder injury on Jan. 24. The injury kept Henderson out of a few games and Barnes later confirmed Henderson would need offseason surgery.
The Vols also still have three incoming high school recruits. Ralph Scott, a 6-8 forward, and 6-6 guard Manny Green are two four-star prospects who signed with Tennessee, and 6-1 guard Marquis Clark could fit right into Henderson's role.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: [email protected]
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks: knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball roster turnover has never been like this for Rick Barnes
Continue reading...
