Maryland transfer guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie commits to Tennessee Basketball
Maryland transfer guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie has committed to Tennessee Basketball, a major addition of one of the highest-rated guards in the NCAA Transfer Portal as the Vols rebuild their backcourt. Gillespie announced the commitment on social media on Friday.
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.
Tennessee coaches visited Gillespie in person on Wednesday, ahead of the recruiting dead period that began Thursday. The Vols have been considered a frontrunner since Gillespie entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Monday.
The dead period runs from Thursday to April 10.
Gillespie, a Greeneville, Tenn., native, 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.
He averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 31.4 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2023-24, starting 24 times in 25 games.
Jon Rothstein reported Wednesday that Gillespie was also receiving interest from Kentucky, North Carolina, Maryland and Villanova. 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.
Tennessee scheduled to return three post players, one guard
Tennessee has also been connected in the portal to Division II Lincoln Memorial wing Elyjah Freeman, Vanderbilt forward Jaylen Carey, Robert Morris forward Alvaro Folgueiras, Sam Houston State guard Lamar Wilkerson, UNC Greensboro guard Donovan Atwell and Maryland guard Rodney Rice, Gillespie’s teammate with the Terps this season.
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Tennessee’s current roster is scheduled to return three forwards in sophomores Cade Phillips and JP Estrella and junior in Felix Okpara and one guard, in freshman Bishop Boswell.
The Vols are set to lose six seniors in total, including seniors Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, Jordan Gainey and Igor Milicic Jr., and fifth-year seniors in Chaz Lanier and Darlinstone Dubar.
The Vols entered this season with two open scholarships, giving Rick Barnes and his staff six openings to work with in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Tennessee has signed two players in its 2025 recruiting class, four-star guard Amari Evans and four-star center Dewayne Brown, and has a commitment from Virginia point guard Troy Henderson.
