2024 Transfer Portal Thread

Lol rightttt?!

Are you actively wanting DJ to portal out? We have 3 open slots to get portal guys right now, and we tentatively return 5 major contributors (ZZ, Aidoo, JM, Awaka, and Gainey) from last year’s team. Plus I’m sure you and many others are hoping Carr and Estrella step up next year and play big minutes. It’s not like we need the roster space right now.
 
What are you saying?

I didn’t say anything about being glad if he left.

I was agreeing with the poster, he made a good point, I agreed. Soooooo where did come up with this?
I wasn't dogging you, I was just talking about your love for portal players. I was really just giving you a hard time and explaining why so many people have the fascination with DJ. Calm down, I'm not that poster
 
Are you actively wanting DJ to portal out? We have 3 open slots to get portal guys right now, and we tentatively return 5 major contributors (ZZ, Aidoo, JM, Awaka, and Gainey) from last year’s team. Plus I’m sure you and many others are hoping Carr and Estrella step up next year and play big minutes. It’s not like we need the roster space right now.
Did I say that?

Yes or no.

Edit: you took too long for my liking. The answer is no.
 
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Trey Townsend a 6’6 forward just entered the portal, another one I wouldn’t mind taking a look at. Horizon Player of the Year

Averaged 1.3 steals per game as well.

17/9 against OSU, 43%
19/10 against Illinois, 38%
17/4 against Michigan St., 42%
21/3 against Dayton, 44%
17/12 against UK, 40%
30/13 against NCST, 42%

Think he’s my number 1 want now.
@Stoerner Fumbles go get him please
I really want him. He was fantastic in the tournament.
 
I made this from the list you all shared here on the page... I included their class for next season instead of their current class since the season is over. Does this list look accurate??? I did not include the guys that were not in bold because you said they just had connections but no real contact yet. Go VOLS 🍊
 

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I made this from the list you all shared here on the page... I included their class for next season instead of their current class since the season is over. Does this list look accurate??? I did not include the guys that were not in bold because you said they just had connections but no real contact yet. Go VOLS 🍊
Looks about right. Nothing done yet, but read today that UCLA is trending heavy for Dailey.
 
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FWIW these are the names I’ve currently heard the most around, again these things change a mile a minute…

Chaz Lanier SG North Florida 6’4” 175lbs 1 year
BJ Freeman G UW-Milwaukee 6’6” 200lbs 1 year
Darlinstone Dubar G Hofstra 6’6” 207lbs 1 year
Aaron Scott G North Texas 6’7” 190lbs 1 year
Cade Tyson F Belmont 6’7” 200lbs 2 years
Saint Thomas F Northern Colorado 6’7” 200lbs 1 year
Tucker Anderson F Central Ark 6’9” 190lbs 3 years
Eric Dailey Jr. F Oklahoma State 6’8” 230lbs 3 years
 
ZZ was gassed against Purdue, regardless of what bTo or anyone else says... you don't shoot that badly on jumpers with fresh legs. Now I think the flu Santi caught was impacting more than just Santi, you also don't have only one player on a team catch a virus.

But when ZZ is not fighting an illness he can and will play 40 minutes every single game. He's got the endurance to do it, I'm not worried about us finding a PG to take his minutes this upcoming season. I would just rather his replacement get a season playing and practicing with ZZ under his belt so they understand the right way to play PG for Barnes.
I think ZZ & Aidoo obviously weren’t themselves. For ZZ, his shooting struggles could’ve easily have been a combo of things; Chasing a very quick and exceptional PG around, being under the weather, and playing too many minutes in general. But I personally think his struggles tends to be when he makes poor decisions with his shot selection. Often he takes rushed shots with no one even close to rebounding position and my least favorite is when he (Knecht also) would take unnecessary 3’s early in shot, contested, or very deep when we are up double digits! (see PU or TX games). Miss a few of those and the rim looks smaller. I LOVE the kid and his hustle but I hope he keeps getting smarter with his shot choices.
 
Just curious, but who is in contact with Tucker Anderson besides us? Given that Tyson has been contacted by Duke, UNC, and UK, he'd seem like the preferred option at that spot, but I'm honestly a little more impressed with Anderson's highlights.

Tyson is a little more efficient in his shooting, but also is a year older with a year more experience. He's also 2" shorter. I guess I just see some room for TA to grow into Tyson's ability. I don't think the gap is enormous.
 
That’s not what I’m saying at all. IMO he has great potential and I just hate to see him throw it away with bad grades and things like that. I love Aidoo and Awaka and I hope they both choose to stay, but I still want Jefferson to stay too. I’d love to see him overcome his issues. I didn’t want Dillione to leave either, but it is what it is.
I’m with you. I like watching guys improve and grow as players and young men. I couldn’t stand being nothing but 1 & done type team. I hope they stay as well. I like them as players and Vols!
 
We have 3 spots open (4 originally, minus 1 for Bishop)

DK, Santi, JJJ = graduated
Freddie = portal

Bishop is our lone 24 signee, and thus far the only spot taken. If we don't lose anyone else to the portal I would be extremely excited for next season. Cause you can still add 3 from the portal but keep a variety of talent returning that has experience and development in the system already.
Man that hurt seeing
DK, Santi, JJJ = graduated
I personally will miss the heck out of those guys. Enjoyed watching every second they played, for better or for worse.
 
If Awaka leaves, then I officially hate the portal era.
Agree. One of my favorite players on the team. Awaka really deserves a chance to start in my opinion. He will never be a stretch 4 but the guy is a horse with his back to the basketball and shows no fear. Struggles against length but who doesn't. I think he can expand his game to 15 ft at the FT line and on the baseline and become a very good, consistent college player.
 
unpopular opinion but I’d rather Aidoo leave than Awaka. I think Awaka has a way high ceiling as a collegiate player.
 
I try to avoid it, but I often imagine what this years team would have looked like without Knecht. Depressing. I'm all for length and defenders, but man, we need shooters everywhere. Never, ever would have imagined a team with Knecht, Gainey and Vescovi would have shooting droughts like they did. Really thought there'd be no chance they all would go cold at once. Knecht's ability to take it to the rim and his midrange game was a life saver at times. Hope Barnes gets greedy for offense in the portal. Outside of maybe Carr and ZZ, I'm wondering where our offense is going to come from regularly next year.
We need 2 scorers to replace Knecht or one highly efficient "go to" scorer and hope guys like Carr can get to double figures or we will struggle again in the halfcourt. Heck Knecht may have been the most versatile scorer UT has had ever and conventional wisdom was that his presence would help Vescovi. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
 
I’d rather have awaka than aidoo
We need to do what is necessary to keep both. These are multi-year guys who are part of our culture and both have improved. Another year with more coaching, both will take another step in my opinion. I think Awaka can consistently be a horse on the block if given enough touches and he plays a bit smarter with respect to fouls.
 
Cade Phillips must stay. He has a Fulky type motor. His upside is huge. A few more pounds to bang and learn how to hit a jumper 10 to 12 feet out.
Phillips is a fluid athlete for a guy who is 6'9. Put 20-25 more pounds on him and teach him how to be aggressive offensively and he has as much upside as Carr does in my opinion. Use him in pick and roll, and he can be dangerous on alley oops.
 
Dude, as much as you love portal guys, DJ would be one of your favorites if he was from another team. DJ could be Mashack on defense with more offense and athleticism. Like I said, could be. I just want to see him get a chance here and next year should be his chance.
I hope that he stays and blossoms and does everything you’re saying but that’s so much extrapolation for someone who’s played 3 minutes in two years
 
Agree. One of my favorite players on the team. Awaka really deserves a chance to start in my opinion. He will never be a stretch 4 but the guy is a horse with his back to the basketball and shows no fear. Struggles against length but who doesn't. I think he can expand his game to 15 ft at the FT line and on the baseline and become a very good, consistent college player.
Struggles against length, but we're awaiting a decision from a 6'9" center. Awakas 6'8". Guess 1 inch makes a....nah. Not gonna say it. Glitch is lurking. I can sense it.
 
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FWIW these are the names I’ve currently heard the most around, again these things change a mile a minute…

Chaz Lanier SG North Florida 6’4” 175lbs 1 year
BJ Freeman G UW-Milwaukee 6’6” 200lbs 1 year
Darlinstone Dubar G Hofstra 6’6” 207lbs 1 year
Aaron Scott G North Texas 6’7” 190lbs 1 year
Cade Tyson F Belmont 6’7” 200lbs 2 years
Saint Thomas F Northern Colorado 6’7” 200lbs 1 year
Tucker Anderson F Central Ark 6’9” 190lbs 3 years
Eric Dailey Jr. F Oklahoma State 6’8” 230lbs 3 years
Give me 3 of Lanier, Freeman, Dubar, Tyson, and Thomas. Any combination and I’ll be happy.
 
Struggles against length, but we're awaiting a decision from a 6'9" center. Awakas 6'8". Guess 1 inch makes a....nah. Not gonna say it. Glitch is lurking. I can sense it.
The 6'9" center is from the class of 2025 and would not play next season. When Knecht was his age as a junior in high school he was like 6'1". Guys grown and Brown could easily get an inch or two taller. Plus he's a mobile big who has good overall size. That's why we are going hard after him because he would come into a team that has Jonas Aidoo leaving.

Awaka was one of our overall most efficient players all season. If he starts and is outta foul trouble he is a double double machine for us.

Here's the advanced stats I put together at the end of the season. Win Shares are supposed to go up the more you play, I only used our 8 rotation players who had enough of a sample size to go off of... Awaka was third in PER - player effeiciency rankings. I mean while he's out there he gives us what we need, we just need him out there more.
Only reason Zakais advanced stats aren't higher is bc it factors in the first half of the szn as well, and it was pretty rocky for him as he was still getting back to 100...

All this to say: Awaka is our guy. He will be an upper classman next szn, expect a huge jump
 

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Phillips is a fluid athlete for a guy who is 6'9. Put 20-25 more pounds on him and teach him how to be aggressive offensively and he has as much upside as Carr does in my opinion. Use him in pick and roll, and he can be dangerous on alley oops.
I never saw him look nervous. That tells me he was comfortable from day one. That’s unusual for freshman. I really would hate to lose him.
 
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The 6'9" center is from the class of 2025 and would not play next season. When Knecht was his age as a junior in high school he was like 6'1". Guys grown and Brown could easily get an inch or two taller. Plus he's a mobile big who has good overall size. That's why we are going hard after him because he would come into a team that has Jonas Aidoo leaving.

Awaka was one of our overall most efficient players all season. If he starts and is outta foul trouble he is a double double machine for us.

Here's the advanced stats I put together at the end of the season. Win Shares are supposed to go up the more you play, I only used our 8 rotation players who had enough of a sample size to go off of... Awaka was third in PER - player effeiciency rankings. I mean while he's out there he gives us what we need, we just need him out there more.
Only reason Zakais advanced stats aren't higher is bc it factors in the first half of the szn as well, and it was pretty rocky for him as he was still getting back to 100...

All this to say: Awaka is our guy. He will be an upper classman next szn, expect a huge jump

Awaka brings physicality to the roster while Aidoo is more of a finesse player.

I would like to see Aidoo be more physical in games next season.
 

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