Tennessee Vols Basketball Recruiting

[mr.checkerboards]

Ughhh...why?

Career 35.5% shooter, 30% 3-pt shooter, 1.3:1 Asst/TO ratio.

What is the appeal?

6'3 guard

 

[cncchris33]

Who would you say the most recent reach on a prospect/transfer is?

I guess it depends on what you mean by reach. That's sort of subjective.

Justin Powell wasn't, IMO, a reach at the time, but he may never pan out like many believed. As a recruit, he seemed like a bit of a reach for Auburn, but he was very successful in Pearl's system as a freshman. I had high hopes for him, myself, so shoukd he never make a significant impact, my potential disappointment will be more than others who believed he was a questionable take to begin with. But, it is still too early to give up there.

Handje Tamba is one who many seemed to believe was a reach, but of course, we haven't seen anything from him to determine whether he'll pan out. I'm of the opinion that you take a shot on him due to his size and his connection to BMaze Elite with the hope you can develop his skills.

Some thought Zakai Zeigler was a reach, but clearly, that one has worked out. I was on board with that signing, as well.

Those are just guys we have landed. There have been others we recruited that went elsewhere that I thought would have been reaches. And you have guys like Drew Pember and Davonte Gaines, neither of which panned out at Tennessee, but have found success at the mid-major level. We'll never know if they'd have found similar success, eventually, at Tennessee, but the totality of their recruiting ranking, original offer lists, and production thru two seasons at Tennessee would suggest they may have been reaches.

 

[cncchris33]

6'3 guard

That's the appeal? 6-3 guards who shoot 36% from the field and 30% from 3 are a dime a dozen. You'll have to give me more than his height to convince me.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I guess it depends on what you mean by reach. That's sort of subjective.

Justin Powell wasn't, IMO, a reach at the time, but he may never pan out like many believed. As a recruit, he seemed like a bit of a reach for Auburn, but he was very successful in Pearl's system as a freshman. I had high hopes for him, myself, so shoukd he never make a significant impact, my potential disappointment will be more than others who believed he was a questionable take to begin with. But, it is still too early to give up there.

Handje Tamba is one who many seemed to believe was a reach, but of course, we haven't seen anything from him to determine whether he'll pan out. I'm of the opinion that you take a shot on him due to his size and his connection to BMaze Elite with the hope you can develop his skills.

Some thought Zakai Zeigler was a reach, but clearly, that one has worked out. I was on board with that signing, as well.

Those are just guys we have landed. There have been others we recruited that went elsewhere that I thought would have been reaches. And you have guys like Drew Pember and Davonte Gaines, neither of which panned out at Tennessee, but have found success at the mid-major level. We'll never know if they'd have found similar success, eventually, at Tennessee, but the totality of their recruiting ranking, original offer lists, and production thru two seasons at Tennessee would suggest they may have been reaches.

That’s fair, I think I’m retrospect maybe Pember more than Gaines given how each has done but again as you said no way we’ll ever know for sure. My bigger point just was that it has seemed like with more success we’ve had less and less reaches, and even the guys many fans seemed as reaches of late have faired pretty well, like Zeigler.

 

[CornbreadVol]

I guess it depends on what you mean by reach. That's sort of subjective.

Justin Powell wasn't, IMO, a reach at the time, but he may never pan out like many believed. As a recruit, he seemed like a bit of a reach for Auburn, but he was very successful in Pearl's system as a freshman. I had high hopes for him, myself, so shoukd he never make a significant impact, my potential disappointment will be more than others who believed he was a questionable take to begin with. But, it is still too early to give up there.

Handje Tamba is one who many seemed to believe was a reach, but of course, we haven't seen anything from him to determine whether he'll pan out. I'm of the opinion that you take a shot on him due to his size and his connection to BMaze Elite with the hope you can develop his skills.

Some thought Zakai Zeigler was a reach, but clearly, that one has worked out. I was on board with that signing, as well.

Those are just guys we have landed. There have been others we recruited that went elsewhere that I thought would have been reaches. And you have guys like Drew Pember and Davonte Gaines, neither of which panned out at Tennessee, but have found success at the mid-major level. We'll never know if they'd have found similar success, eventually, at Tennessee, but the totality of their recruiting ranking, original offer lists, and production thru two seasons at Tennessee would suggest they may have been reaches.

Man, I really hope Powell can develop into an aggressive scorer like we saw at Auburn. Or at least gain his confidence back.

 

[cncchris33]

That’s fair, I think I’m retrospect maybe Pember more than Gaines given how each has done but again as you said no way we’ll ever know for sure. My bigger point just was that it has seemed like with more success we’ve had less and less reaches, and even the guys many fans seemed as reaches of late have faired pretty well, like Zeigler.

Agree with all that.

My concern with a guy like Hayes is that he's already played two years and gotten significantly worse in areas of efficiency from year 1 to year 2 on roughly the same number of attempts per game. I don't think it's unfair to question where the upside is in this one. At least with a guy like Zeigler, there was something to work with and untapped potential. He was sort of a blank slate. A guy like Hayes would have to completely transform himself because there is 2 years worth of data to suggest that he probably is what he is.

 

[cncchris33]

Man, I really hope Powell can develop into an aggressive scorer like we saw at Auburn. Or at least gain his confidence back.

Same here. He looks like a fish out of water in our system by comparison.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Agree with all that.

My concern with a guy like Hayes is that he's already played two years and gotten significantly worse in areas of efficiency from year 1 to year 2 on roughly the same number of attempts per game. I don't think it's unfair to question where the upside is in this one. At least with a guy like Zeigler, there was something to work with and untapped potential. He was sort of a blank slate. A guy like Hayes would have to completely transform himself because there is 2 years worth of data to suggest that he probably is what he is.

I don’t disagree, and as I said at the time not real sure how mutual the interest is…Keats also has hurt a lot of guys stock that we’re highly thought of and failed to develop talent he has gotten at NCST, so I don’t think that aspect should be totally ignored either.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

That's the appeal? 6-3 guards who shoot 36% from the field and 30% from 3 are a dime a dozen. You'll have to give me more than his height to convince me.

Barnes looks at a player's defense first.

 

[cncchris33]

Barnes looks at a player's defense first.

Well, he’s a pretty average defender, so I’d guess Barnes wasn’t too impressed with that, either.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

That’s fair, I think I’m retrospect maybe Pember more than Gaines given how each has done but again as you said no way we’ll ever know for sure. My bigger point just was that it has seemed like with more success we’ve had less and less reaches, and even the guys many fans seemed as reaches of late have faired pretty well, like Zeigler.

It wasn't that long ago that people were giving up on Vescovi, and James. Not to mention Bailey, whose fortunes seem to be resurrected here of late, no doubt due to the baptism of a new born-again defender. It also wasn't long ago that people were absolutely trashing ONk.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Man, I really hope Powell can develop into an aggressive scorer like we saw at Auburn. Or at least gain his confidence back.

Peoplw forget that Powell only played 10 games for Auburn his first year. He is essentially a redshirt freshman this year, in obvious need of development time. Barnes keeps saying his defense must improve to play. He's playing behind James and Vescovi, so he isn't going to get much time until he develops defensively. I wouldn't write him off. We know he can shoot.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Peoplw forget that Powell only played 10 games for Auburn his first year. He is essentially a redshirt freshman this year, in obvious need of development time. Barnes keeps saying his defense must improve to play. He's playing behind James and Vescovi, so he isn't going to get much time until he develops defensively. I wouldn't write him off. We know he can shoot.

We will see what happen in the off season. If he will take coaching, he can become a good player, but he has to become much more aggressive, especially on defense.

 

[cncchris33]

e will see what happen in the off season. If he will take coaching, he can become a good player, but he has to become much more aggressive, especially on defense.

There really is no reason he can't follow the Vescovi path to relevance. We hear it mentioned, ad nauseum, in broadcasts about how many miles Vescovi is tracked running during games, primarily to get himself open. If Powell would work that hard on the offensive end to get himself open, and then additionally work to get in the kind of shape and make the same kind of physical transformation SV made to his body, he can have a similar future of success. As of now, he is content to just float around the perimeter rather than make hard cuts, and other movement on offense, consistently, to work himself open for a look. Part of that is likely due to the fact that he isn't a primary option on offense like Vescovi is, but until he works like that, he never will be, either.

 

[hUTch2002]

That's the appeal? 6-3 guards who shoot 36% from the field and 30% from 3 are a dime a dozen. You'll have to give me more than his height to convince me.

What if he were a 6’4” guard shooting 41% overall and about 38% from 3? Then would you be excited?

 

[SJAVol32]

What if he were a 6’4” guard shooting 41% overall and about 38% from 3? Then would you be excited?

I mean a 38% volume 3 point shooter has more value than one that shoots 30% from 3.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

There really is no reason he can't follow the Vescovi path to relevance. We hear it mentioned, ad nauseum, in broadcasts about how many miles Vescovi is tracked running during games, primarily to get himself open. If Powell would work that hard on the offensive end to get himself open, and then additionally work to get in the kind of shape and make the same kind of physical transformation SV made to his body, he can have a similar future of success. As of now, he is content to just float around the perimeter rather than make hard cuts, and other movement on offense, consistently, to work himself open for a look. Part of that is likely due to the fact that he isn't a primary option on offense like Vescovi is, but until he works like that, he never will be, either.

I agree on offense, but he will have to really improve his defense if he wants to play a lot of basketball for Barnes.

 

[cncchris33]

I mean a 38% volume 3 point shooter has more value than one that shoots 30% from 3.

It seems like he's trying to set me up by presenting Victor Bailey's Oregon sophomore stats prior to transferring to Tennessee because I previously called Cam Hayes, "Victor Bailey 2.0", which was actually an unintended compliment to Hayes.

In reality, I supported the Bailey transfer because he seemed to have a proven skill (3-pt shooting). He shot 39.8% on 118 attempts in his last season at Oregon. It never really translated to increased success at Tennessee, at least not consistently.

But, to answer his question, yes, I'd be more accepting of taking a 6-4 guard who shot nearly 40% on 118 3-pt attempts like I was three years ago when we took him.

 

[cncchris33]

I agree on offense, but he will have to really improve his defense if he wants to play a lot of basketball for Barnes.

Oh, no doubt. But remember, Vescovi was a pretty bad defender early on in his career, too. He worked to get better, and is actually pretty good, now.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Oh, no doubt. But remember, Vescovi was a pretty bad defender early on in his career, too. He worked to get better, and is actually pretty good, now.

I think another point is Vescovi plays with his National team which gives him a lot of high quality play.

 

[hUTch2002]

I mean a 38% volume 3 point shooter has more value than one that shoots 30% from 3.

Right. The point is those stats I gave were Bailey’s when he transferred from Oregon. As another posted stated, stats are only part of the story. Barnes has earned trust in player evaluation. I do get what Chris is saying though, you’d think we would be in on the top transfers rather than trying to find a diamond in the rough.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

That's the appeal? 6-3 guards who shoot 36% from the field and 30% from 3 are a dime a dozen. You'll have to give me more than his height to convince me.

For me yes. You can't teach the size, trust thyself to teach the skills

 

[hUTch2002]

It seems like he's trying to set me up by presenting Victor Bailey's Oregon sophomore stats prior to transferring to Tennessee because I previously called Cam Hayes, "Victor Bailey 2.0", which was actually an unintended compliment to Hayes.

In reality, I supported the Bailey transfer because he seemed to have a proven skill (3-pt shooting). He shot 39.8% on 118 attempts in his last season at Oregon. It never really translated to increased success at Tennessee, at least not consistently.

But, to answer his question, yes, I'd be more accepting of taking a 6-4 guard who shot nearly 40% on 118 3-pt attempts like I was three years ago when we took him.

Lol. So you didn’t answer directly and went this route because…

Anyway, yes those are Bailey’s numbers. I do get your point of why are we seemingly trying to find a project rather than the best transfers out there. I’ll trust Barnes though as his player eval has been solid and player development has been even better.

 

[cncchris33]

Right. The point is those stats I gave were Bailey’s when he transferred from Oregon. As another posted stated, stats are only part of the story. Barnes has earned trust in player evaluation. I do get what Chris is saying though, you’d think we would be in on the top transfers rather than trying to find a diamond in the rough.

Yeah, that's my main point of contention. Why take on a reclamation project when there are much better options sure to pop up on the transfer market?

And as has been mentioned, just because we have reached out doesn't mean we are beating his door down to get him here.

 

[cncchris33]

Lol. So you didn’t answer directly and went this route because…

Anyway, yes those are Bailey’s numbers. I do get your point of why are we seemingly trying to find a project rather than the best transfers out there. I’ll trust Barnes though as his player eval has been solid and player development has been even better.

Haha...I know a setup when I see it.

But seriously, it wasn't an intentional effort to ignore your question, but rather an effort to answer your question and address SJA's comment, simultaneously.