Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes values defense in transfer Braedan Lue

While Tennessee basketball targeted offensive versatility with its portal class, veteran coach Rick Barnes reverted back to his pillars of defense and rebounding with Kennesaw State transfer Braedan Lue.

The Vols desperately needed another big man to plug into their frontcourt rotation. Lue provides an energetic solution.

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“We are pleased to welcome Braedan and his family to our basketball program,” Barnes said in a school release on April 27. “He is a superb young man with excellent character, which makes him an outstanding fit for our program. Braedan is a fast and twitchy player who possesses big-time athleticism, a sturdy frame and an elite wingspan. He is a proven winner, a great teammate and an impactful defender who is willing to play any role to help his team.”

The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward played his first two seasons at Kennesaw State, starting in 66 of 68 games. Last season, he averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks on a team that made the Men’s NCAA Tournament. The Owls lost to Gonzaga in the first round.

Almost all of Tennessee’s frontcourt from its Elite Eight roster left in the transfer portal, including J.P. Estrella (Michigan), Jaylen Carey (Missouri) and Cade Phillips (Texas A&M). Freshman forward DeWayne Brown II was one of only two returners for the Vols, and the only frontcourt player.

Bishop Boswell (Maryland) and Amari Evans (Texas) also left Tennessee, while freshman guard Clarence Massamba is still in the portal. Star freshman forward Nate Ament declared for the 2026 NBA Draft on April 23. Sophomore guard Ethan Burg returned home to Israel.

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The Vols have 12 rostered players for the 2026-27 roster. Brown and freshman guard Troy Henderson are the two returning players from last season. The high school class consists of three four-star recruits in forward Chris Washington Jr., forward Ralph Scott and wing Manny Green, and three-star guard Marquis Clark.

More: How an impromptu meeting connected Earl Grant to Rick Barnes,…

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Publish date : 2026-04-27 14:21:00

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