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Josiah-Jordan James updates his health at Big Orange Tip-Off Club

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•02/22/23•

GrantRamey

Josiah-Jordan James, Tennessee Volunteers guard
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James attempts to dribble past a defender in a game against Texas on Jan. 28, 2023. (Eakin Howard / Getty Images)

Josiah-Jordan James is aiming to return for No. 11 Tennessee against South Carolina on Saturday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. The senior wing, has missed the last four games with the Vols while recovering from a left ankle sprain, updated his health while speaking on Wednesday at the Big Orange Tip-Off Club in Knoxville.

“I’m doing great,” James told the crowd. “These last couple weeks I’ve been doing extensive work with Chad (Newman), our athletic trainer, and then ‘G’ (Garrett Medenwald), our strength and conditioning coach. Hopefully, barring any setbacks, I’ll be out there Saturday. Looking forward to it.”

James added later during the speaking engagement that he’s hoping to return to practice on Thursday.

Both James and freshman Julian Phillips (hip) were listed as day-to-day and game-time decisions before Tennessee’s 68-63 loss at Texas A&M Tuesday night.. 

Rick Barnes on Josiah-Jordan James, Julian Phillips: ‘We don’t want them to play unless they’re healthy’

James missed eight games earlier this season while dealing with knee soreness. Phillips, who suffered a hip flexor injury in practice on February 10, has missed the last three games.

Head coach Rick Barnes didn’t have an update for the timeline moving forward for either player.

“It’s on them,” Barnes said. “I have to believe they are doing everything they can to get back. I believe that. I have to believe it with all my heart because they’re competitive.

“They want to play but, again, no one is working any harder than what Chad and Garrett are.” 

Santiago Vescovi didn’t practice Monday at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville due to illness. Still, he started and played a team-high 36 minutes while finishing with 14 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

“I was pretty sick yesterday,” Vescovi said Tuesday night. “It was not so cold in the gym, I had a winter jacket and I was still cold. But I said it earlier on radio, I don’t really like to talk about myself.

“I’m just really proud of how the guys fought today, all the effort they put into the game.”

Zakai Zeigler scored 14 points and had four assists in 34 minutes. Olivier Nkamhoua scored 13 points and had four rebounds and Tobe Awaka had 10 points and seven boards. 

Up Next: No. 11 Tennessee vs. South Carolina, Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

James is averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds, shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from the 3-point line. He has started eight times in 16 games, averaging 23.9 minutes per game. He missed eight games earlier this season due to knee soreness.

Phillips averages 4.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game this season, starting all 25 games so far. 

“They’re doing what we ask them to do,” Barnes said Tuesday night, “but we don’t want them to play unless they’re healthy.”

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