Darlinstone Dubar update: Rick Barnes reveals when Tennessee forward will return

Darlinstone Dubar has missed the start of the season at Tennessee due to a personal matter.

With that, Rick Barnes addressed his status again to end his postgame press conference on Wednesday. He said that the Volunteers, who have all been supporting him during this time, will be ready when he is with it being his decision of when he’ll be available to them.

“You know, we’re on his timeline,” said Barnes. “Whenever he feels, you know. It’s strictly up to him.”

“It’s been important to him that he’s been able to stay around his teammates,” Barnes added. “They love him, he loves them.”

There has been nothing official on what Dubar has been dealing with off of the court. Still, he did make his return to practice earlier this week with individual work. That has him still a part of their team too as he was also on their roadtrip last weekend during their win at Louisville.

Dubar was one of the top available players in the transfer portal across all of college basketball this offseason. He was the No. 61 overall transfer per On3’s 2024 Top Transfer Portal Players. His addition was part of a Top-30 portal class for Tennessee alongside Chaz Lanier (No. 4), Felix Okpara (No. 54), and Igor Milicic (No. 155).

Dubar is a fifth-year guard after a season at Iowa State and then three more at Hofstra. In 116 collegiate appearances, he has averaged 11.7 points, five rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 52.3% overall. Most of that came while with the Pride, including a career-best season for him last year with averages of 17.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals on 53.9% shooting from the field and 39.9% from three.

Tennessee is allowing Dubar to take his time before making his season and team debut with them. They’ll continue to allow him that until he’s ready to rejoin their lineup whenever that may be.

“It’s all on his timeline,” said Barnes.