Tennessee basketball after Maryland transfer guard

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Ja’Kobi Gillespie has entered the transfer portal Monday after an All-Big Ten season at Maryland.

The rising senior point guard is a likely Tennessee basketball portal target as the Vols rebuild the roster heading toward coach Rick Barnes’ 11th season.

Gillespie averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 assists for the Terrapins, who reached the Sweet 16. He shot 40.7% on 3-pointers and made 87 threes, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors.

Gillespie is a Greeneville, Tennessee, native. He played his first two seasons at Belmont before transferring to Maryland. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 12.9 points and 3.7 assists in two seasons at Belmont. He starred as a sophomore for the Bruins, breaking out to average 17.2 points and 4.2 assists.

Tennessee has to fill its point guard spot after Zakai Zeigler graduated following a historic four-year career. Gillespie would likely step into the starting spot immediately and allow recent commitment Troy Henderson to develop.

GILLESPIE: What are Tennessee basketball’s transfer portal needs? Start with these three

The Vols have four returning scholarship players in guard Bishop Boswell and forwards J.P. Estrella, Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips. They have three incoming freshmen in four-star forward DeWayne Brown II, four-star guard Amari Evans and Henderson, a three-star.

Tennessee has used the transfer portal as well as any team in college basketball the past two offseasons. Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier are among the biggest portal success stories in college basketball. Jordan Gainey, Igor Milicic Jr. and Okpara have been key players for Tennessee as well out of the portal.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

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Source link : https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/mens-basketball/2025/03/31/jakobi-gillespie-transfer-portal-tennessee-basketball-maryland/82453059007/

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Publish date : 2025-03-31 20:33:00

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