Tennessee basketball freshman to redshirt
Freshman wing DJ Jefferson will sit out as a redshirt for No. 11 Tennessee basketball this season. The Vols opened the regular-season schedule Monday with a 75-43 win over Tennessee Tech at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The 6-foot-5, 207-pound Jefferson, out of Richardson, Texas, was a spring addition to Tennessee’s 2022 recruiting class. He was a three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus, ranked No. 50 nationally, No. 25 among small forwards and No. 1 in the state of Minnesota, where he attended Minnesota Preparatory Academy.
An ankle injury suffered during preseason led to the redshirt decision for Jefferson, according to Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes.
“We just felt, one, we’re really excited that he’s here with us,” Bares said after the season-opening win on Monday. “He’s got a load of talent and he missed some early season practice which set him back. It’s happens every year. When a freshman misses that early season practice, and I think he was out for a couple weeks with an ankle, and it really set him back especially with the older group of guys.
“And you never redshirt a guy unless you know he’s going to be a factor in your program. There’s no doubt he has a chance to be a real factor. I think it’s going to affect him tremendously because everyone we’ve ever done that with it has paid off if they do their part and there’s no question in my mind that I think he will.
“Certainly we hope he will,” Barnes added. “We’re excited that he’s here. Just from what he missed early we felt like it was going to be really hard for him to catch up.”
He was one of four prospects who signed with Tennessee in the 2022 class, alongside five-star wing Julian Phillips, four-star guard BJ Edwards and three-star power forward Tobe Awaka. The Vols also added Indiana State transfer guard Tyreke Key, a native of Celina, Tenn., out of the transfer portal.
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“I chose Tennessee to be beside Coach (Rick) Barnes,” Jefferson told On3 in May after announcing his commitment to the Vols. “He has a lot of accolades under his belt, and I want to make history with him, He’s coached a lot of big stars such as Kevin Durant, T.J. Ford, the list goes on. So I wanted to be a part of that legacy and be able to say, ‘I played for Coach Barnes at the University of Tennessee.”
Jefferson didn’t play in Tennessee’s 99-80 exhibition win over Gonzaga on October 28 in Frisco, Texas.
“Lefty has a smooth floor game,” On3 National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw said of Jefferson’s game during the recruitment process. “Compact frame with burst at the rim. A shot-maker. Has a smooth shot from three. Attacks closeouts right and left. Can get up on the rim.
“Consistent effort has been his main question mark. Upside to be an adequate defender both on and off the ball. Is comfortable handling the ball in the half-court. Good balance when attacking the basket. Can finish at the rim from multiple angles. Has a lot of tools in his bag.”
