South Carolina natives Josiah-Jordan James, Julian Phillips come up big for Tennessee in homecoming

When Tennessee basketball has gone to South Carolina the last three years, a little more attention has been paid to Josiah-Jordan James. For the former five-star prospect and Charleston native, going back to Colonial Life Arena in Columbia was a homecoming of sorts.

Five-star freshman wing Julian Phillips joined James in the celebration on Saturday, in No. 8 Tennessee’s 85-42 drubbing of South Carolina on its home floor.

Phillips, a Blythewood, S.C., native, just 20 miles north of Columbia, hit the first shot of the game, a three from the wing, and finished with eight points on 3-for-4 shooting. James, playing 18 minutes in his second game back from nagging knee soreness, had 12 points off the bench, going 4-for-9 from the field and 2-for-5 from the 3-point line, grabbing three rebounds and recording a couple assists.

“Really happy that Josiah is working his way back in,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said after the win, “shooting the ball the way he is. I thought Julian was good today. Overall, there were really a lot of good things.”

Josiah-Jordan James in last two games: 20 points, six assists, three rebounds

James missed eight of the first 13 games of the season with knee soreness that he couldn’t shake. He returned in the 87-53 win over Mississippi State on Tuesday, after missing four straight games, scoring eight points in 17 minutes, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from the 3-point line.

What’s obvious, according to Barnes, is having James back means Tennessee has arguably its best shooter back.

“The one thing he has done,” he said, “the fact that he has missed practice, he has shot a lot of shots. I think he’s very, very confident. He’s worked. From the time he’s gotten here, I don’t know that I’ve seen a guy transform himself from not being a great shooter to where, I mean, he’s on the verge of being a great shooter. 

“He’s never stopped working on his shot … he’s one of those guys that, when it leaves his hand, you really do think it has a terrific chance to go in.”

It’s more than just his jump shot, though. Barnes describes James as having a high basketball IQ and having elite hands. Even while he’s been out, it’s been a talking point for the coaching staff to the other players on roster.  

“I told the guys (Friday) night,” Barnes said, “I said you guys can learn from the mental part, being so important. Even though (James is) down on the other end (working individually during practice), I know he’s listening to what’s going on with our team and he’s able to come in and execute at a high level, knowing what we’re trying to do. 

Up Next: No. 8 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt, Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Barnes has been just as complimentary of the work Phillips continues to put in. He said before practice Friday that he could see his star freshman “getting himself on a roll here.”

Phillips had 11 points and seven rebounds against Mississippi State on Tuesday, before scoring eight in his return home to South Carolina.

“I just feel he’s getting closer and closer,” Barnes said Saturday night, “where he’s just going to keep getting better-and-better each game. I thought he was good today. He’s still learning a lot … I think the fact is if he’ll just keep working like he’s working, we’re happy with him. We know he can score the ball and we do try to play through him as much as we can when we can. I thought today he gave us a great effort.”