Julian Phillips currently undecided on his future after Tennessee's loss to Florida Atlantic
NEW YORK — Tennessee’s four seniors — Josiah-Jordan James, Olivier Nkamhoua, Santiago Vescovi and Uros Plavsic — all could return to the Vols and use their extra year of eligibility should they choose to do so.
None had answers for their respective futures late Thursday night, after Tennessee’s season ended with a 62-55 loss to Florida Atlantic in the Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden.
“I don’t know really know, to be honest,” Nkamhoua said. “That’s for the future.”
“I haven’t,” James said when asked if he had thought about what’s next.
Plavsic and Vescovi had the same response. They were still stuck thinking about what went wrong in the East Region semifinal.
“Still trying to process this loss,” Vescovi said. “Still trying to process it. Haven’t thought about it.”
And then there’s Julian Phillips, the five-star freshman wing who has been up and down NBA mock drafts since he got to Tennessee.
Phillips, too, was asked about his future after the loss to Florida Atlantic loss. And no, he hadn’t thought that far down the road either.
“I am still processing the end of the season, this game especially,” Phillips said. “Just being here with my team and being here with my brothers, this is really tough. Everything in the future, we can sit down and figure that out later when we get away from here.”
Julian Phillips: 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game this season
Phillips averaged 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game this season, starting 25 times in 32 games, missing four games due to a hip injury in February. He shot 41.1 percent from the field but just 23.9 percent from the 3-point line. He led Tennessee in free throws made (97) and attempted (150) and was fourth in rebounding (150).
He flashed brilliance at times, like scoring 25 points against USC in November in the Bahamas or the 18 points and 11 rebounds he had at Mississippi State in January, but more often he failed to get going.
“I definitely wish I could have played better,” Phillips said. “I know the type of player I am. I know the work I put in. I have to get back in the gym, get my game right.”
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Phillips was scoreless in 12 minutes against Florida Atlantic on Thursday, taking just two shots and grabbing just one rebound. He had only four points and four rebounds in 45 minutes over three NCAA Tournament games.
He scored in double-figures 13 times, but only three times over his final 13 games.
The Athletic, ESPN split on Julian Phillips’ draft ranking
“I learned a lot this year,” Phillips said. “I learned a lot about myself. Just being here was a blessing for me. I am thankful for everything coach (Rick) Barnes taught me this year.”
Next up, he said, is conversations with those around him. His family, his inner circle, his coaches.
“I am not sure what my future holds yet,” Phillips said. “I will sit down and discuss it and make the best decision for me.”
The Athletic earlier this month had Phillips at No. 18 on their ranking of the top 100 prospects available in the upcoming draft. ESPN, on the other hand, had Phillips at No. 55 overall, ranked No. 13 among small forwards.
If Phillips does opt to return to Tennessee for a second season, he said he does know what he wants to get accomplished.
“Definitely just (get) back here and finish the job,” Phillips said. “It is tough feeling this way. Definitely not a feeling that anyone wants to have. I definitely would just go as hard as I can so we don’t have to feel this way again.”
