Rick Barnes explains departure of Cameron Carr from Tennessee's roster

Cam Carr surprised everyone on Rocky Top yesterday with his decision to eventually enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Following the 82-64 win for No. 1 Tennessee over MTSU last night, Rick Barnes had to address that choice to just leave by the sophomore. He said that he had no clue what went into it because no one knew that that was coming from him.

“No idea, you know,” Barnes said as he shrugged. “He just walked out.”

Barnes doesn’t know why they’d choose to do this at this point of the season, let alone at all, either.

“No. Not really,” said Barnes. “I think they probably didn’t understand the rule. I’m just, again – I don’t know that but that’s what I would assume.”

Carr had appeared in four games this season, although having not played in the last month due to an injury to his thumb, in his second year with the Volunteers. To start this season, he averaged 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in just over ten minutes a game while shooting 62.5% from the field and 40% from three. Add in his 14 outings as a freshman and, in total, he posted 2.3 ppg. (37.1% FG, 30.4% 3PT), 0.8 rpg., and 0.6 apg.

That’s after Carr, who attended Link Academy in high school, was a four-star prospect for them in the 2023 cycle. He was the No. 54 recruit in the nation as a Top-15 SG and the No. 3 prospect from Missouri. That made him their top signee of that class alongside JP Estrella and Cade Phillips.

This hurt Tennessee both in their depth and because of how they felt about Carr. However, he made that decision and the Vols will have to deal with it with their lineup moving forward going into conference play.

“You know, we were obviously counting on him. He’d been a part of our team. Surprised his teammates. They were very disappointed,” said Barnes. “So, from here on, there’s nothing to really talk about. He made his decision. No reason. I mean, it’s baffling to be quite honest with you.”