Tennessee Basketball announces the signing of transfer point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie
Tennessee Basketball on Monday announced the signing of Maryland transfer guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, the first addition for the Vols out of the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason and one of the biggest pieces Rick Barnes will add to his 2025-26 roster.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ja’Kobi to Rocky Top, a place he and his wonderful family know well as East Tennessee natives who bleed orange,” Barnes said in a press release announcing the signing. “Ja’Kobi is a high-character young man who fits our program and truly wants to be a Volunteer.”
Gillespie announced his commitment to Tennessee on Friday. It’s a homecoming for the Greeneville, Tenn., native, who was prioritized heavily by Tennessee’s coaching staff as soon as he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal last Monday.
Rick Barnes on Ja’Kobi Gillespie: ‘We expect him to help lead our team from day one’
Gillespie started all 36 games at Maryland this season, averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 assists in 31.6 minutes per game while shooting 45.3% from the floor and 40.7% from the 3-point line, where he made 87 of 214 attempts.
“A dynamic point who can really shoot the ball from deep and get his teammates involved, Ja’Kobi is a fearless competitor with a high basketball IQ,” Barnes said. “We expect him to help lead our team from day one and we feel quite fortunate to have him as a part of our program.”
Barnes and members of his Tennessee coaching staff visited Gillespie in person last Wednesday, before the week-long recruiting dead period went into place on Thursday.
“It’s always been my dream and that’s just like home for me,” Gillespie told Volquest after announcing his commitment. “I couldn’t even think about Tennessee without my stomach and chest getting excited so I just knew it was the right spot.”
Top 10
- 1New
Dan Lanning
Pressed for Nico comment
- 2Hot
No More Nico
Neyland removes QB pics from stadium
- 3Trending
Mario Cristobal
Warns team on holdouts
- 4
DJ Lagway injury
Florida QB's timeline updated
- 5
Derrion Reid
Alabama SF enters transfer portal
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Gillespie played his first two seasons of college basketball at Belmont, averaging 12.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 26.2 minutes per game, starting 32 times in 57 games with the Bruins.
Kentucky, North Carolina and Villanova also recruited Ja’Kobi Gillespie
Gillespie entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after former Maryland coach Kevin Willard left for Villanova. Maryland hired former Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams on Tuesday.
Jon Rothstein reported Wednesday that Gillespie was also receiving interest from Kentucky, North Carolina, Maryland and Villanova, before announcing his move to his home-state school.
“It feels good,” Gillespie said, “just finally being able to come back home and have the same people that support me a high school be able to support me Tennessee.
“It means a lot to me and my family. We all grew up going to Tennessee football and basketball games so it’s just it just means a lot being from there.”
