Tennessee is reportedly the 'frontrunner' for Maryland transfer guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie
Tennessee Basketball is the “current frontrunner” to land Maryland transfer guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.
“With Rick Barnes losing his entire backcourt to expiring eligibility,” Tipton wrote on Tuesday, “there is a real need for Gillespie and the Vols will prioritize him heavily.”
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.
The 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.
Vols hosting Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely on visit
Tennessee on Monday night started its first visit with portal prospect when Virginia’s Isaac McKneely arrived in Knoxville.
The 6-foot-4 junior averaged 14.4 points and shot 42.1% from the 3-point line in 34 games with the Cavaliers this season. Tipton reported Monday that Tennessee and Louisville appear to be the leaders in McKneely’s recruitment.
“A decision is expected soon after his trip to Knoxville,” Tipton reported. “A return to Virginia at this point is unlikely. It sounds like North Carolina is fading. This is shaping up to be a two-team race between Louisville and Tennessee. I like the Vols chances but I’m not counting out the Cards.”
McKneely made 101 3-pointers this season while also averaging 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game. He shot 43.9% from the floor. He made 51 threes as a freshman in 2022-23 and 81 last season, when he averaged 12.3 points per game.
Tennessee has also shown interest in Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne guard Jalen Jackson and Lincoln Memorial’s Elyjah Freeman.
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Jon Rothstein reported Tuesday that Illinois transfer forward Morez Johnson is down to six schools, including Tennessee. The other finalists are Ohio State, Kansas, Michigan, Arkansas and Kentucky.
The 6-foot-9, 255-pound Johnson averaged 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 17.6 minutes per game at Illinois as a freshman this season, starting eight times and appearing in 30 games.
Tennessee scheduled to return three post players
Tennessee’s current roster is scheduled to return most of its forwards, in sophomores Cade Phillips and JP Estrella, and junior in Felix Okpara.
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.
