All-conference guard Tyreke Key announces transfer destination

Indiana State transfer guard Tyreke Key will transfer to Tennessee for the 2022-23 season, he announced Saturday evening. The move is a return home for the talented guard, who is a native of Celina, Tennessee.

Key spent the first five years of his college career with the Sycamores, making an immediate impact as a freshman. His first year with the team in 2017-18, he averaged 8.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team.

Home Sweet Home 🧡🍊 @Vol_Hoops pic.twitter.com/MnjzhRhUq2

— Tyreke Key (@TyrekeKey) April 23, 2022

He took a huge leap the next year as a sophomore, leading the team with 17.4 points per game. That earned him the honor of being named team captain to the MVC Most Improved team. Key would only get better the next two years, earning back-to-back appearances on the all-conference first team. In 2020-21 he averaged 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and two assists as Indiana State finished 15-10. He did not play this past season after undergoing shoulder surgery in November.

Key is not listed in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings, but should still have a chance to make an impact for the Volunteers next season. Tennessee is already set to lose starting point guard Kennedy Chandler, its leading scorer, to the NBA Draft. Sharpshooter Santiago Vescovi (40.3% from 3-point range) is also testing the NBA Draft waters, while several other players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Tyreke Key had several options to choose from once he decided to transfer, making official visits to Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas Tech. The choice ultimately came down to the Volunteers and Red Raiders, and Key couldn’t resist the opportunity to return home.

Key is Indiana State’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,650 in his career. He is also third in career player efficiency rating (19.1), first in career true shooting percentage (.580) and fifth in career minutes played per game (32.4).

Key’s .524 career effective field goal percentage ranks first in Indiana State history. His 13.3 offensive box plus/minus ranks first, and his 3.6 career win shares put him second since the program has been keeping advanced stats.