April 1, 2026, 1:11 p.m. ET
Tennessee basketball is retooling its roster following its third consecutive exit in the Men’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
The Vols are slated to return 9 influence gamers. Starters Bishop Boswell and J.P. Estrella each have a number of years of eligibility remaining. Rotation gamers Jaylen Carey, Amari Evans, Ethan Burg and DeWayne Brown II may return as nicely.
Freshman ahead Nate Ament has not but selected if he’ll enter the 2026 NBA Draft or return to Tennessee for one other season.
The transfer portal opens on April 7, the day after the nationwide championship, and closes on April 21.
Tennessee had a tough begin to March, dropping 4 of six video games and shedding in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals to Vanderbilt. The Vols entered March Madness as a No. 6 seed, its lowest in the Rick Barnes period. They discovered their stride on the proper time with wins over Miami (Ohio), Virginia and Iowa State earlier than the 95-62 loss in opposition to Michigan in the Elite Eight.
Here’s what to know in regards to the Vols and the transfer portal:
What does Tennessee want in the portal?
Tennessee may lose three starters for the 2026-27 season. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Felix Okpara are each seniors, and Nate Ament may declare for the NBA Draft.
The Vols want to seek out one other pair of high-end, high-volume scorers in the portal. Gillespie and Ament mixed for over 34 factors per sport, and none of their present returning gamers match that mould. Gillespie ran a lot of the offensive actions because the lead guard, whereas Ament usually acted because the nearer in tight video games.
Tennessee can even want a defensive anchor to switch Okpara. Okpara was eightieth in the nation in blocks per sport, however his 6-foot-11 body and wingspan routinely scared off opposing gamers from difficult him on the rim. He was additionally one of many Vols’ finest rebounders on each the offensive and defensive glass.
Will Nate Ament return for one other season?
After the Michigan loss, Ament said he would speak to his “coaches” and “circle” in regards to the subsequent steps surrounding the NBA Draft or returning to high school. The 6-10 freshman could possibly be Tennessee’s first lottery decide since Marcus Haislip went at No. 13 total in 2002.
Ament averaged 16.7 factors, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 35 video games. He shot 39.9% from the sector and 33.3% from 3.
Wynton Jackson covers highschool sports activities for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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