Rick Barnes: Tennessee freshman J.P. Estrella 'looked like he truly belonged' against Florida

J.P. Estrella waited on the baseline while Dalton Knecht worked on the opposite block. When his teammate’s shot went up, Estrella battled for position under the rim, jumped and collected the rebound after the ball bounced off the rim.

In one motion, he spun over his left shoulder, jumped off two feet and finished with a high release, scoring the second-chance points with his right hand off the offensive rebound.

“Estrella gets the rebound and sticks it in,” Bob Kesling said on The Vol Network’s radio broadcast as No. 6 Tennessee was dismantling Florida in the second half of an 85-66 win over the Gators Tuesday at Thompson-Boling Arena. 

“Great play by J.P.,” Vol Network analyst Bert Bertelkamp shouted. 

Estrella, the 6-foot-11, 241-pound freshman forward, matched a season high with seven points in his nine minutes against the Gators. He made his only two shots from the field — he dunked with 23 seconds left in regulation — and went 3-for-4 at the foul line while adding a rebound and a block. 

But it was less about the numbers and more about what Estrella looked like when he got his opportunities on the court. And how he prepared for that opportunity. 

“I thought he looked like he truly belonged out there,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said during his press conference after the game. “But I will go back, it was his preparation, getting ready for the game.”

J.P. Estrella as a recruit: No. 60 overall, No. 8 center in 2023 class

Estrella hadn’t played since he got mop-up minutes against Norfolk State two weeks earlier, playing a season-high 13 minutes off the bench.

He didn’t play at Georgia on Saturday or at Mississippi State last week, despite both junior center Jonas Aidoo and sophomore power forward Tobe Awaka battling foul trouble. 

But back home on Tuesday, there Estrella was in the first half, getting meaningful minutes and giving the Vols some added — and very much needed — depth in the post.

“I thought his confidence looked good,” Barnes said. “And I think that happens when you’re doing what you’re supposed to do. I mean, he was really trying to work it, getting into his coverage with the ball screens and getting in a stance. 

“And I think that when it goes back to preparation, doing your work, knowing it, when you’re called on, you’re going to be ready.” 

Estrella was a headliner in Tennessee’s 2023 recruiting cycle, a four-star prospect ranked in the top 60 of the class out of South Portland, Maine. 

He’ll play a much bigger role for the Vols in the front court down the road, but the glimpses shown against Florida felt like a starting point. 

“I feel like I have been preparing for this moment every day at practice,” Estrella said Tuesday night, “battling against Jonas and Tobe every day. (Coach Barnes) gave me an opportunity and I really took advantage of it and I think I really did a great job.”

Up Next: No. 6 Tennessee vs. Alabama, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Did he feel like he belonged, like Barnes said it looked? 

“I think so,” Estrella said. “I feel like this game I really started to connect offensively and defensively. I tried to dunk on some guys, made some free throws. Just tried to show a little bit of my offensive package and what I can do. I felt like this was the game I really connected.”

It’s a connection Tennessee (13-4, 3-1 SEC) needs Estrella to keep making with Alabama (12-5, 4-0) coming to Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday (2 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN2).

It’s the days between the two games that will tell the tale, though 

“We’ve talked about what we need from him,” Barnes said, “and if he’ll keep building, he can help us every game. And he would, he will, play every game if he’ll come back, practice well Thursday, Friday, get ready for the game Saturday.

“He gives us another big body and a guy that we think, I’m telling you, the guy can score the basketball and got good hands.”