What Rick Barnes has seen from Tennessee basketball's transfers this summer
It didn’t take long for Dalton Knecht to fit in with the Tennessee basketball program. Much like the other Vols that were already on roster, it’s hard to keep the Northern Colorado transfer wing out of Pratt Pavilion.
“A gym rat,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said Tuesday afternoon before the Vols held a workout at Pratt. “He is in the gym. I think he’s been in the gym every day he’s been here.”
Knecht is one of six newcomers on Tennessee’s 2023-24 roster and one of three additions from the NCAA Transfer Portal, alongside Harvard forward Chris Ledlum and USC Upstate shooting guard Jordan Gainey.
‘Obviously we expect big things from (Dalton Knecht)’
Last season Knecht averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 35.3 minutes per game, playing in 32 games last season. He shot 47.9 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from the 3-point line.
The 6-foot-6, 204-pound Knecht looks the part and, since arriving earlier this summer, has proved he belongs.
“It’s all new to him, obviously,” Barnes said, “what we do and how we do it, it’s new to anybody who comes in here for the first time. But he’s a versatile player. Offensively is skilled and can do a lot of different things.
“Obviously defensively will be the biggest thing— he’ll have to learn our system and what we need there but he’s working at it every day and anybody that has the passion that he has will figure it out quick. Obviously we expect big things from him.”
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Chris Ledlum, Jordan Gainey ‘going to add a lot to’ Tennessee basketball
Ledlum, the 6-foot-6, 242-pound Harvard forward, averaged 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game last season, shooting 47.3 percent from the floor.
Gainey, the son of Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey, averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists, shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from the 3-point line over the last two seasons at USC Upstate.
“Both of them understand how to play,” Barnes said of Ledlum and Gainey. “Both of them have the ability to create their own shots. They both understand the game. They both, again, highly competitive. Highly competitive and have added to us and both of them are still learning the system.
“In terms of what they’ve shown us from their work ethic, their attitude, their willingness to come right in and blend in with our team and program has been great. Both of those guys are going to add a lot to us.”
