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Letter from the Sports Editor: ‘We sleep in May’

TREVOR MCGEE Sports Editor

Popularized by Jon Rothstein and shamelessly overused by personnel of The Daily Beacon sports department, the phrase “We sleep in May” is the epitome of college basketball.

This time of year is chaos. And that is what makes it like no other.

No other sport does the overlapping that college basketball does. In the 2024 season, Tennessee basketball had a noon tip at the KFC Yum! Center to face Louisville, while Tennessee football was gearing up to face Mississippi State in Knoxville that night.

And when March rolled around, that same basketball team cut into the first three weekends of SEC baseball — which turned out to be Tony Vitello’s last run on the collegiate diamond.

But in the meantime, Rick Barnes’ team is reaching consistent heights. The Vols have made seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including Elite Eight finishes each of the last two years. Those are program bests.

His program is doing it whenever, wherever. In San Antonio during the 2023 season, in front of a quiet house for a 10 p.m. ET tip? They’re there. Heading down to a ballroom in the Bahamas to face a loaded field, competing for the Baha Mar Championship? Consider them crowned.

And from a media perspective, that includes covering them from the most ridiculous of places. It’s not unusual to say I was up past the 1 a.m. hour as the Vols clinched the championship in the Bahamas last season to ensure the story was posted at the buzzer from my Laurel Hall couch. But I’ve also been in a Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Champy’s for a family friend dinner, with my computer in hand as Tennessee basketball was at Illinois.

I watched Jordan Gainey’s buzzer-beating layup through a restaurant window in Champy’s, laptop balanced beside my plate, finishing my story as my entree hit the table.

Sleep is, ultimately, the epitome of brutality. Too much of it, and you’re groggy the next day. Go to sleep too early, and you’re missing an instant classic at midnight as St. Mary’s takes down Gonzaga once more from the University Credit Union Pavilion.

With that being said, there are only three rules to live by.

1. Never acknowledge The Godfather: Part III.

2. Never waste calories on pizza outside of the Eastern Time Zone.

3. ALWAYS foul up three late.

Maybe the Vols will just be back, nastier than a pack of dobermans in 2025-26.

But for now, we wait — and we don’t sleep until May.

Letter from the Asst. Sports Editor: Beauty of college basketball

ALEX SARKIS Asst. Sports Editor

It might sound cliché, but there really is nothing like this time of year.

The arrival of daylight saving time annually welcomes one of the world’s greatest spectacles – college basketball.

My time spent in the student-engulfed media section of Food City Center always carries some of my favorite parts of being in this field. For starters, I got my first call to the so-called big leagues when I joined the men’s basketball beat a year ago. It was my first taste of what true professional journalism looked like in a major college sport, and I learned some of the most valuable lessons about how this stuff really worked.

From a fan perspective, I think there’s a beauty to college hoops that no other sport can capture.

There’s a certain niche trait about the game. It’s tuning in to a 10 p.m. tipoff on a random Tuesday in November to catch a battle between Gonzaga and Creighton. It’s naming as many March Madness Cinderella legends as you can in a contest with your buddies. Where else can a guy named Doug

Edert make history? It had to be in college basketball.

The personalities are on another level. At the broadcasting desk, you’ve got names like the great Dick Vitale and Bill Raftery. Roaming the sidelines, figures like Dan Hurley, Rick Pitino and John Calipari give the game the swagger and emotional vibes that make it so special. Who had Amir Khan, a team manager for McNeese State, garnishing NIL deals because of his pregame boombox antics? If you know college basketball, you probably weren’t surprised.

Then, you have the atmospheres. Whether it’s a rocking Allen Fieldhouse or the close quarters of Cameron Indoor Stadium, these settings make for some of the premier scenes in all of athletics. It’s camping out for seats in Krzyzewskiville or waiting in long ice cream lines inside of Rupp Arena. Nothing can compare.

So yes, aside from doing my actual job covering the Vols in one of their most highly anticipated seasons in school history, you can find me in my apartment taking in the beauty that is college basketball. The quadbox on my TV will be rolling, and I’ll be loving every second of it.

Let the madness begin. Man to man!

Trevor McGee covers Tennessee basketball in Elite Eight at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Friday, March 28, 2025.

Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon

Alex Sarkis stands on the court at Lucas Oil Stadium prior to Tennessee’s Sweet 16 matchup with Kentucky.

Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon

Lady Vols basketball sees growth from newcomers, returning veterans in exhibition blowout of Columbus State

THEO COLLI

Senior Staff Writer

Season number two of the Kim Caldwell era began with an exhibition matchup against Columbus State at Food City Center, an outing that ended up breaking records.

Things started with a bang, the Lady Vols topping the Cougars 148-48 while scoring an unofficial record for most points scored in a single game, exhibition or not.

The game saw the collegiate debuts of each of the Lady Vols’ five freshmen.

Only five players on the roster this season played or were on the roster a year ago. Names like Talaysia Cooper and Ruby Whitehorn picked up right where they left off.

Transfers Nya Robertson, Jersey Wolfenbarger and freshman Mia Pauldo led a spread-out stat sheet.

A handful of Tennessee’s five freshmen are expected to continue taking big strides as the season progresses. Standouts like Jaida Civil and Deniya Prawl made their presence felt across the court.

Along with the freshmen, the team welcomed three transfers who are all expected to slot into the rotation quickly. Against Columbus State, SMU transfer

Robertson and LSU import Wolfenbarger both finished the night with 18 minutes logged.

Robertson showcased her three-point shot, shooting 4-for-8. Wolfenbarger posted eight rebounds, proving to be a critical piece of depth that can ride out the season on the frontcourt beside Zee Spearman.

“I was happy our eight new ones could be in the arena and see the crowd and kind

of get the jitters out,” Caldwell said. “So I’m thankful to Columbus State for making the trip and making us better.”

Besides Robertson and Wolfenbarger, Janiah Barker stands as the third and final transfer piece that joined the squad over the offseason. She finished her debut with the Lady Vols with 15 points in 19 minutes, racking up 10 rebounds and four assists.

In her first year in Caldwell’s system, Barker is prepared for the challenge. She

hopes to find the role that best suits her on both sides of the ball.

“We’ve been trying to figure out where I would best fit in the press,” Barker said. “I think I was playing in the back a little bit, just trying to read the rotations, but I think just me being able to be up there and use my length, that’s something they enjoy. It’s fun, it’s tiring, but it’s fun.”

One of the most intriguing storylines of the night came from a new face in Mia Pauldo.

She and her sister, Mya Pauldo, arrived on campus this past offseason and immediately made an impact. The growth only continued in the duo’s first real action as they combined for 26 points.

Mia Pauldo finished with an impressive seven assists and no turnovers, a trend that can mean big things for not only her as a player, but for Tennessee.

“I’m not one bit surprised,” Caldwell said. “That’s who she is, that’s why she’s here, with what she’s done every day in practice, and honestly, I think she could have probably shot some more and made some more. She made the right plays, she had seven assists and zero turnovers in her debut, and I think that’s something we could build upon.”

Nate Ament flashes signs of maturity during Tennessee basketball’s season debut

Asst. Sports Editor

The most anticipated freshman in Tennessee basketball history gathered his feet in the corner.

The Vols already held a sturdy 58-35 lead over Mercer in their season opener, but Nate Ament had some personal milestones to check off. The 6-foot-10 forward took advantage of an open look, banging home his first-career three to the delight of the Food City Center crowd. The moment may have been insignificant on the scoreboard, but to Ament, he needed to see one go through.

The Manassas, Virginia, native posted a double-double in an exhibition loss to Duke, but it felt empty due to some poor shooting. He expected much more from himself. He needed to earn this one.

“I think I learned the most in film,” Ament said. “Just having our coaching staff being able to kind of get on me. I saw the way I was playing, I didn’t like it. I thought I could just do a better job of running the floor, finding my teammates early. I think the more that I help, the more that I look for more teammates, the better. The more open I’m going to be when I get the ball.”

This iteration of his performance against the Bears appeared in a drastically more positive light. A team-leading 18 points accompanied nine rebounds in 29 minutes of action. His six makes in 11 attempts acted as the biggest story. It took Ament 20 attempts against the Blue Devils to get nearly the same number of shots to fall. Where he looked uncomfortable against

Duke, Ament took more charge this time around. Drives to the basket characterized a 12-point second half that showcased his abilities to possess the superstar potential that NBA scouts are on the lookout for. The flashes appeared.

“I thought he stayed with it,” head coach Rick Barnes said. “It’s all new to him. He’s going to adjust to playing against scrappy

guards because he’s never had to do that. He’s really trying hard defensively. Nate’s smart, hard-working. Believe me, after the last game with Duke, he showed maturity because he came out, he took it hard.”

This season will continue to be one of growth for the 18-year-old. Avoiding selfishness at the college level is one of the adjustments Ament will prioritize making as the non-conference schedule plays out over the next two months. Chances to mesh with veteran teammates while working with Barnes and his staff during practice are the only ways to work through these growing pains.

Through just 80 minutes of basketball, Ament is already starting to make adjustments.

“Even during the Duke game, I feel like the shots I took are the shots I work on,” Ament said. “Tonight, I think a lot of my mindset was just playing the team game, trying to play with my teammates. I feel like it’s better for a coach to tell you to be more aggressive than for him to tell you to lay off a little bit. I’m just gonna try to make the best plays possible and continue to work on my game, but also stick to the team side of all of it.”

Lauren Hurst (7) battles for a rebound during an exhibition game against Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

ALEX SARKIS

Nate Ament (10) looks for a lane during a game against Mercer at Food City Center. Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon

What Lady Vols basketball said about Kim Caldwell’s system ‘They can’t say they came in prepared’

THEO COLLI Senior Staff Writer

The hype surrounding the speed and intensity is both very real and, as Kim Caldwell’s team said during media day, as advertised.

When Caldwell first entered Tennessee as the school’s fifth head coach, the immediate dialogue surrounding her hire focused on the quick-paced offense and frequent substitutions, but what some don’t see is the preparation and work required for players to find consistent success in the system.

An aspect of learning the system that can go unnoticed is the amount of both mental and physical buy-in each player needs to find a consistent role in the everchanging rotation.

“The mental side of it is there on purpose,” Caldwell said. “We want to get over the hump, make people stronger, and the only way to make people stronger is to put them in tough situations, have them fight their way out.”

Caldwell has five returning players, four of whom saw time on the court all the way until the Sweet 16 matchup against Texas.

“Comfort doesn’t do you any good in life,” Caldwell said. “You have to uncomfortably grow, and that’s something we try to do every year right around this time, and hopefully they’re seeing improvement too.”

It’s not an easy thing to reset the culture of a university with this stature in a span of less than two seasons, but Caldwell is making it a point that this system isn’t something to be reckoned with.

Caldwell, along with assistant coach Gabe Lazo, has been challenging for growth on both the mental and physical fronts for all the second-year players, such as guard Talaysia Cooper.

“There’s been tremendous growth mentally,” Caldwell said. “They’re working on their next play mentality, they’re working on being leaders, working on talking. Also, their on-court skill set has gotten better.”

Cooper joined the team last season for Caldwell’s first season and took off under the new offense. She finished the season with 16.6 points on 45% shooting from the field. Despite the big year, there are still more steps to be taken by the redshirt junior.

“It was kind of hard at first, but it was easy to get on, and I could see where they were going,” Cooper said. “Being that

Talaysia Cooper (55) drives to the paint during an exhibition game against Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

leader, just talking them through it all and knowing what our standards are here, and being that, not a vocal leader, but leading by example.”

Cooper was named to the SEC Preseason Watch List on Oct. 13, earning a secondteam nomination.

“The one thing I will say, they can’t say they came in prepared, because they didn’t,” Cooper said. “They don’t know what’s going to hit them, and I can’t say I was prepared for it either; it’s just something that you’ve got to want, and come in and work every day.”

Just because they weren’t prepared then doesn’t mean the returning players have all found solace in their experience.

Yet the system, while having its benefits, is also designed to make all the players work to the max of their abilities. Sometimes the preparation goes as far as preparing to prepare.

“You have to condition and get your body prepared to be able to play fast,” Lazo said. “Everybody wants to play fast, but they don’t want to do what it takes to play fast. So when you’re here with coach

Guard or forward, the intensity for the system stays the same.

“We enter practice the same every day, the intensity,” Spearman said. “So it’s like when we go on the court, we’re used to it, it becomes a normal thing out of our routine. We need to play fast. We already know coach Kim’s system. So when we get in here, we all try to bring our effort to everything going on the court.”

While the dynamic from last year’s team to this year’s is different, the benefit of familiarity is already bleeding through. In one game of exhibition action, the Lady Vols dropped a record of 148 points amidst a 100-point victory over Columbus State.

The game featured the same highintensity system that every player had discussed, but now featured some new faces that added a newfound energy to the court.

“It’s a completely different team, but they really catch on very quickly,” Spearman said. “It comes with how much they want to win and how much urgency they all have. So they are all willing to learn it really fast.”

In order to play fast, they also have to learn fast. Having these five returning voices only smooths out the preparation for freshmen such as Mia and Mya Pauldo, Jaida Civil, and Deniya Prawl, all of whom are expected to take on roles despite being true freshmen.

Kim and our staff, we’re going to get into shape.”

Besides Cooper, one of the most seasoned players on the roster is redshirt senior Kaiya Wynn. While this will be her first season on the court with Caldwell, she had the chance to learn the feel while recovering from an Achilles injury.

“We have really good leaders within our returners,” Wynn said. “So they were able to explain the way of the system to the newcomers and the transfers.”

The Lady Vols have eight players on the roster who either transferred in or are true freshmen. There’s an excitement for Caldwell to get her first official recruiting class on the court, but they still need to grow accustomed to the speed of it all.

“What we do is not easy, it’s very difficult,” junior Alyssa Latham said. “But you have to come with the mindset that you’re going to push through mentally and everything else will follow.”

The frontcourt is seeing an addition of a big-time transfer in Janiah Barker, but also sees the return of Latham and Zee Spearman.

“I think it helps when you have all these returners that get it, that can figure it out, that can really set the tempo and push the pace to remind people when things get hard,” Caldwell said. “That’s made my job as a coach easier, and it’s made practices move seamlessly.”

Cooper saw her game elevate as she spent more time under the Caldwell system. Therefore, she understands as well as the rest what the expectation is now for season two of Caldwell.

An underrated aspect of having someone like Cooper to mentor guards like the Pauldos, who have the chance to thrive in the system as true freshmen, is that they can be reminded there’s proof within the process.

“Even mentally, it’s a fast-paced basketball,” Cooper said. “Getting up in press, getting paint touch scoring, getting the ball out quick, that can take it mentally because sometimes things aren’t going to go your way, and you have to be mentally able to push through that and know what the standard is.”

Talaysia Cooper embraces pressure in second year

TYLER EDMANDS Contributor

When Kim Caldwell took over as head coach for the Lady Vols last season, she emphasized speed, versatility and effort. Few players embody those qualities better than redshirt junior guard Talaysia Cooper.

The Turbeville, South Carolina, native has emerged as one of the most intriguing players on Tennessee’s roster, blending a defensive player with the ability to also be a dynamic scorer.

Cooper, a former five-star recruit with star potential, has found that pressure has become her biggest challenge and her greatest opportunity. After beginning her college career at South Carolina, she came to Tennessee in search of a bigger role. Now in year two of Caldwell’s fast-paced and aggressive system, she’s proving that she belongs in the national spotlight.

“I want to be an underdog,” Cooper said. “But I have more to prove. I can tell people underestimate me, but it’s up to me to go out there and prove myself. I’m not trying to make you happy, I want to make myself happy.”

While her mentality has quickly made Cooper one of the most respected players in

Tennessee’s locker room, she’s also got the numbers to back it up. She averaged 16.6 points, 3.1 steals and 0.7 blocks a game last season — all of which led Tennessee.

“She has the ability to lead by example,” Caldwell said. “She’s in the gym on her own more than anyone else. I think she watches more film than anyone else, too. Those little championship tendencies matter, so hopefully it carries over to our freshmen and newcomers.”

Cooper’s versatility makes her a crucial part of Caldwell’s up-tempo system. Her ability to guard multiple positions gives Tennessee versatility on defense, while her confidence in attacking the rim provides balance on offense.

“One of my strengths is getting to the hoop,” Cooper said. “And my defensive side. It’s about being able to get the steal and initiate the transition offense.”

Tennessee’s transition offense looked as good as ever against Columbus State in an exhibition game on Oct. 29. Tennessee had 71 points off turnovers, winning 148-48. Cooper finished the game with 17 points, six assists and seven steals in just 22 minutes. But even with those numbers, Cooper knows that the expectations around her are sky-high. After landing on the All-SEC Second Team last season, she was tabbed

as All-SEC First Team by the coaches and All-SEC Second Team by the media this preseason.

“She can be one of the best players in college basketball,” Caldwell said. “She can be one of the top players in the sport right now. She just has to continue to be consistent, and I don’t say things I don’t mean, especially if they’re nice.”

That kind of trust from her head coach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Cooper says that Caldwell’s unwavering belief helps fuel her to take the next step.

“She told me that I have the potential to be one of the best players in the country, and that really stuck out to me,” Cooper said. “I can’t slack off, I’ve got to be getting better every year.”

Cooper welcomes these expectations, seeing them as motivation.

“Those expectations play in a lot,” Cooper said. “I know what they’re telling me I can be, but I have a higher ceiling and I’m going to shoot for the best. I look at it as something I wanted. After the journey I’ve been through, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

With Tennessee’s season opener approaching, Cooper isn’t running from the pressure. She’s using it to take the next step toward becoming one of the nation’s best players.

Talaysia Cooper (55) shoots a three during a game against Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.

David Smith / The Daily Beacon

Kaiya Wynn returns from Achilles injury for final season

THEO COLLI Senior Staff Writer

When Kaiya Wynn’s season ended before it even got the chance to begin last season, everything that Wynn thought she knew and understood about the game was about to be flipped upside down.

During a practice just a week and a half before the start of Kim Caldwell’s first year with the team, the then-redshirt junior was downed with a season-ending injury when she tore the Achilles tendon in her right leg.

“My biggest thing was losing my limp,” Wynn said. “I limped for a long time after surgery and coming back. So just trying to reteach myself how to walk and walk the right way was probably one of the biggest challenges.”

The timeline of the injury lasted from October 2024, Wynn worked back for 12 months before returning officially to the court for practice in October of 2025. She played her first action during an exhibition match against Columbus State.

Achilles injuries have become much more common in basketball over time. Just last season, the NBA saw a handful of stars go down with Achilles injuries in the playoffs alone, with

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum in the Eastern Conference semifinals and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton in the NBA Finals.

Before the injury, Wynn was one of only five players to appear in every single one of the 33 games played, averaging 4.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists on the season.

While all her time has come off the bench in her three playing seasons with the team, she has still served as critical depth in a league that so desperately relies on the next man up mentality.

Beyond the numbers, she was brought in as a defensive specialist, prioritizing her play beyond the perimeter. Yet with just one wrong move, one bad fall, Wynn’s basketball career entered a new territory.

“You learn how important your mindset is, you know,” Wynn said. “You can’t really shift what happens to you, but you can shift your response to it. So just coming in every day and trying to be positive and be a good teammate.”

An upperclassman like Wynn has the chops to be a good leader in the locker room, but an injury that sidelined her for a year completely altered her process and how she approached her day-to-day work with the Lady Vols.

Despite the irregularities, Wynn found comfort within the team, which can remain a testament to the culture Caldwell has created

in such a short amount of time while with the team.

“My teammates, the staff and my family were just awesome,” Wynn said. “Just uplifting me every day, and kind of getting on me when I was slacking, or didn’t wanna do PT or something that day, so just encouraging me that there is sunshine at the end of the rain.”

Caldwell sees the importance of having Wynn on the court, and over anyone, has been as excited as they get for her official return to the rotation.

“It’s a hard injury to recover from,” Caldwell said. “So she’s been slowly getting back into it. She’s a really good leader for us. She knows her role, she plays it well, she’s a good defender, she runs, she’s still trying to fit into that ‘getting back’ role.”

It’s expected that there will be growing pains. It’s without debate one of the hardest injuries to recover from. Despite the challenges, Wynn displays perseverance on the highest levels.

“She’s a big player for us regarding what she brings to the table,” Caldwell said. “She knows what it takes, she knows what it’s like to be a Lady Vol, she knows what that means, and she’s doing a really good job of communicating that to our new players.”

And that time away from the court is something that goes unnoticed by the fans.

That makes the first time back much more difficult.

“You spend so much time not playing, so when it comes time to, you’re bricking lay-ups and your timing is off,” Wynn said. “You’re trying to run and catch a pass, and you forget how hard it is to do things like that and just find the rhythm of the game.”

In Wynn’s return to the court on Oct. 29 against Columbus State in an exhibition, she finished with nine minutes, along with five points, five boards and a steal.

Kaiya Wynn (5) celebrates a Lady Vols victory over Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. David Smith / The Daily Beacon

Janiah Barker

brings versatility, leadership to Lady Vols

TYLER EDMANDS Contributor

The arrival of Janiah Barker for the Lady Vols signals an immediate shift in their playstyle. The 6-foot-4 forward brings a unique skill set to Knoxville as a versatile player who can do it all.

“Janiah has been fantastic,” head coach Kim Caldwell said. “She’s a good leader for us and I think we’re still figuring out how great she can be. She can shoot the three, she can get to the rim, she’s a phenomenal passer and a lockdown defender.”

For Barker, her road to Tennessee was anything but linear. She announced her commitment to the Lady Vols on April 21, 2025, after spending her junior season at UCLA. Before her time with the Bruins, she played two seasons at Texas A&M, giving her experience in both the SEC and the Big Ten. That experience, competing at high levels in multiple systems, may be the key to her quick integration into Tennessee’s lineup.

At UCLA, Barker averaged 7.4 points and six rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game, logging six double-doubles off the bench. During her sophomore campaign at Texas A&M, she produced even more dominant numbers, starting 27 games and averaging 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds while recording eight double-doubles.

Now back in the conference where her college career began, Barker looks ready to take on a primary role for the Lady Vols. While Barker has the ability to stretch the floor and knock down outside shots, the expectation is that she’ll spend most of her time in the paint anchoring Tennessee’s interior presence.

Her ability to rebound will help take the workload off senior forward Zee Spearman, last year’s leading rebounder, while

Janiah Barker (0) shoots a free throw during a game against Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. David Smith / The Daily Beacon

giving the Lady Vols more size and strength in the post.

“I learned a lot of post moves at UCLA,” Barker said. “Implementing

“She (Caldwell) appreciates my size and the skills that come with it. She told me that she sees me do things that no 6’4” player has done before, so that gives me confidence.”

-JANIAH BARKER, Forward

them with the ability to drive opens up a lot of opportunities and positions for me to get my teammates the ball. If

Barker’s arrival in Knoxville also brings about postseason experience, a much-needed quality for the Lady Vols. UCLA reached the Final Four last season, and Barker contributed 31 points and 31 rebounds during the Bruins’ postseason run.

“Any experience you have at a high level helps,” Caldwell said. “The fact that she played on a Final Four team is probably her biggest strength.”

In Tennessee’s exhibition game against Columbus State on Oct. 29, Barker’s impact was immediate. While she totaled 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, she also picked up six steals while playing the front of Tennessee’s full-court press.

“I’m 6-foot-4, but my fluidity is guard-like,” Barker said. “You don’t expect it from someone that tall. The way that I move, the way that I dribble and the way I can shoot. She (Caldwell) appreciates my size and the skills that come with it. She told me that she sees me do things that no 6’4” player has done before, so that gives me confidence.”

While Barker has only been in Knoxville for eight months, she’s already embraced her leadership role on the team. With her experience across multiple high-level programs and her natural presence on the court, she’s become a voice for both returning players and newcomers.

I’m in the post with a guard and there’s help coming, I know there’s someone open.”

While this will be Barker’s first season playing under Caldwell, her previous experience gives her an edge as she returns to the SEC. Having already competed in what she calls the nation’s most physical and fast-paced conference, Barker’s familiarity with the league’s intensity should help her quickly adapt to Caldwell’s system and style of play.

“The Big Ten has so many different playstyles,” Barker said. “They’ve got a lot of teams that would shoot and a lot of motion offenses. In the SEC, there’s a lot of transition and a lot of bigs. When I think of the SEC, I think of the bigs banging down low and the physicality is like no other.”

“Being a leader and being OK with it was a big thing for me,” Barker said. “Knowing what my role is, accepting it, and being the best version of myself. The team listens to a lot of what I say and they take it and run with it. Making sure I’m not having a bad day, or if I am having a bad day, how am I still showing up? Learning how to be a better me for them is the main thing this year.”

That maturity, along with her oncourt skill set, has impressed Caldwell, who believes that the senior forward has her best basketball ahead of her.

“It takes some time to fully be ‘this is how we do it and this is how great you can be,’” Caldwell said. “Once it clicks for her, and I think it’s starting to click, I think the sky will be her limit.”

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KIM CALDWELL KIM CALDWELL

Cade Phillips settling into increased leadership role within Tennessee basketball

ALEX SARKIS Asst. Sports Editor

Inside the Tennessee basketball locker room, tears flowed.

The Vols came up short in the Elite Eight for the second-straight season, but this time, Tennessee’s veteran core stood at the end of the road. The emotional embraces in the bowels of Lucas Oil Stadium featured Vols’ greats Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack, a pair of four-year stalwarts who helped propel their program to its highest national prominence.

Sophomore Cade Phillips joined in on the hugs with fellow teammates who helped him learn the ropes of college basketball. By the time his eyes dried, a new reality started to set in.

“We had our end-of-the-year meetings the day after the last game last year,” Phillips told The Daily Beacon. “I go to that meeting, and I’ve been the young guy playing on the first two teams I’ve been here, and then all of a sudden I go into my meeting and they say, ‘Hey Cade, we need to be a leader. You’re the most tenured player on the team.’”

The Jacksonville, Alabama, product already experienced a boost in his role during his second season, a campaign that saw him appear in each of Tennessee’s 38 games. Phillips’ increased opportunity came under negative circumstances when J.P. Estrella’s season ended prematurely after just three games due to a foot injury. Phillips jumped at the chance to get more reps, often appearing as head coach Rick Barnes’ first choice off the bench.

The 6-foot-9 forward’s defensive prowess did the talking on most nights, his length allowing him to defend the rim to the tune of the second-most blocks on the team.

Now, his role in a new group is a new focus.

“It was kind of like a surreal moment,” Phillips said. “I’ve been the young guy. I’ve been the guy looking up these people and then all of a sudden, within literally 24 hours, it’s, ‘you’re the guy that’s been here the longest.”

He enters his third season under Barnes, now a veteran on a contingent that features nine new players. A class of five freshmen is highlighted by a former blue-chip recruit in Nate Ament. Phillips gets to be part of the leadership group that helps foster the highest-rated freshman in program history, especially when it comes to playing for a demanding coach.

“If you’ve been to a coach Barnes practice, you know he gets it a lot from him,” Ament said. “So you know he’s been through the fire. He played a lot last year, and he kind of knows how to succeed at this level. So maybe it’d be dumb to not

listen to him.”

Learning how to play for a Barnescoached team is an adjustment for every newcomer. One of Phillips’ larger roles concerns getting the new arrivals settled into the workload and demonstrating the expectations of the level of play required to compete for a national title in the SEC. This notion is something even a veteran like Ja’Kobi Gillespie needed some guidance with.

“He and J.P. have both done a great job just showing us the ropes,” Gillespie said. “Showing us how things are done here, how hard we should work here. Because a lot of guys haven’t worked this hard before coming here, so for them to just kind of set the standard here has been really good.”

Even though he now gets to face him every day in practice, Vanderbilt transfer Jaylen Carey possesses the unique perspective of squaring off with Phillips in true game action. The pair met two separate times last season when the Vols and Commodores renewed their rivalry.

Carey enjoyed fine outings against Tennessee in both instances, posting a double-double on 14 points and 10

rebounds in January. The forward racked up 18 points the second time around. Phillips only played 16 combined minutes between the two matchups, but generated respect from his former rival.

“Since playing him last year, I’m starting to see why he is what he is,” Carey said. “His defense is elite, plays it at a high level. And his offensive game is really something that I watch a lot.”

Phillips’ longer tenured teammates continue to notice vast improvements in his ability to score the rock. He averaged 4.6 points per game last season, a number the Vols would be okay with once again with the arrival of some other proficient scorers in Gillespie and Ament. That doesn’t mean the work to become a better offensive weapon is absent.

Phillips takes pride in being a two-way guy, one of the main reasons he fits into Barnes’ system. All the 221-pound Link Academy product wants to do is be the most well-equipped version of himself for Tennessee’s brand of basketball. His offseason work displayed this sentiment.

“Being more versatile,” Phillips said. “Just being as versatile as I can, whether

that’s offensively or defensively, and it’s really just filling where I’m needed on this team. Whether that’s being able to score the ball more, whether that’s being able to take up a little bit more of a Jahmai role, the way he did it was incredible, but guarding the ball, just all over the place, has been the focus.”

Not many players around the country know what it’s like to play in consecutive seasons in the Elite Eight. Coming so close to program history, just one game from punching a ticket to Tennessee’s first trip to the Final Four in back-to-back seasons stings more than anything else in Phillips’ mind. He’s focused on replacing those premature season-ending hugs with something much more joyous.

“I think this is one of the most talented teams I’ve been on since being here,” Phillips said. “That’s something to say with the teams I’ve been on. It’s extremely talented teams that have been here. From top to bottom, we just got a group of guys that can go. It’s been cool to see and watch guys grow in that part.”

Cade Phillips (12) dunks over the Duke defense during an exhibition game at Food City Center, Sunday Oct. 26, 2025. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

Ethan Burg, Clarence Massamba add international touch to 2025-26 roster

TREVOR MCGEE Sports Editor

When Ethan Burg wrapped up his commitments in Israel, he learned quickly what basketball under Rick Barnes was like. During his first practice, Burg drifted a couple of inches off the spot that Barnes wanted him in — and he heard about it immediately.

“He just started yelling, like crazy yelling,” Burg told The Daily Beacon. I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa. That’s my first practice, man. Just take it easy on me.’”

French guard Clarence Massamba had a shared experience when he arrived for his first practice.

“He just started yelling at me a lot,” Massamba said. “That’s his way to coach. He’s just going to yell and let you know what you have to do better. That’s what he did.”

And that’s the challenge that comes with playing under Barnes, who has a knack for international talent. Barnes arrived as Tennessee basketball coach in 2015 and immediately located the international talent pool, reeling in Kyle Alexander from Ontario, Canada.

Ever since, Barnes’ roster has had the touch of at least one foreign-born player, with a reach that’s stretched to France, Uruguay, Serbia, Finland and Croatia.

Burg and Clarence Massamba fit the mold this season. Both had delayed arrivals to Knoxville as they competed on the professional cycle overseas, but each will have the chance to earn a large-capacity role for a roster with much turnover.

“Both of those dudes are like very, very coachable,” assistant coach Amorrow Morgan said. “They ask tons of questions. They’re very hungry to have success here.”

First Israeli to play for Tennessee

Though Barnes’ international ties have been prevalent, they have never before dipped into the Israeli region. When Burg logs his first official minute, he’ll check off that marker.

Burg hails from Mishmar HaShiv’a, Israel, where he has spent the last two seasons playing professional basketball in the Israeli Basketball Super League. He arrives in Knoxville with three years of eligibility and a completely new culture to adapt to.

“When you’re playing pro for five years, it becomes a job,” Burg said. “...That’s people’s food, people really fighting for minutes, fighting for food on the table … So coming in here, it’s a different kind of feeling. You have this camaraderie.

“Everybody’s having fun together on

the court, off the court — we compete every day. We really compete every day.

I’m just grateful. I’m just grateful to be here, man. Really, really grateful.”

In those years of professional basketball, Burg played on the highest stage. He had the opportunity to represent Israel in the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship as well as the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket 2025 — which was the reason for his delayed arrival.

His accolades overseas racked up, earning ISBL All-Star honors to pair with ISBL Player of the Month in November 2024. In his two seasons playing for the Israeli second division National League, Burg took home Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2021-22, followed by MVP honors in 2022-23 as he averaged 18.5 points per game.

In his final two seasons in Israel’s top division, Burg averaged 11 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists over 54 games. He shot 42.9 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from three.

The 6-foot-3, 189-pound guard’s experiences overseas included the chance to play against NBA superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luke Doncic, among others, while playing on the EuroBasket circuit.

“Iron sharpens iron at the end of the

day,” Burg said. “And I feel like I have a good understanding of the game. … I have a role on this team, and it’s to lead.”

As he became a large contributor to a professional team that finished fourth in a competitive league, Burg realized the stats were not of utmost importance. He found his place in contributing to wins.

And that’s a skill he has come to realize as he’s matured with the game. At the age of 23, Burg is beyond the years of his teammates — and most of his collegiate counterparts. That’s why he understands his role.

“I’m not really trying to come in here and prove that this is my team, I’m the guy,” Burg said. “So I’m just trying to give a little bit from myself to the younger guys so they can learn. I know some of them got their own plans — if it’s getting to the NBA or having a career overseas, I’m just trying to help, also get better, and enjoy the journey.”

Though Burg and Barnes have a technical language barrier, with the differences of foreign basketball, it’s the patient approach that has made the adjustment ‘confident and comfortable.’

“He’s mature. He’s not afraid to speak up, and he’s going to compete,” Barnes said. “But we haven’t waited on him. We told him, we’re not waiting.”

Bonjour,

Massamba

The French region is one Barnes has familiarity with, and Yves Pons’ success with the Vols gives reason for bringing aboard Massamba to round out the roster.

Massamba’s journey was more traditional to the American lifestyle, as he spent his sophomore and junior campaigns playing in Florida. He spent the 2024-25 season notching 21 starts for AS Monaco Basket’s U21 team in the LNB Espoirs league, averaging nearly 12 points and three rebounds per contest.

He also earned a run with AS Monaco Basket’s senior team in the LNB Élite league, appearing in three games in October 2024. That qualifies him as another player on the team with professional experience.

It is still an adjustment, regardless.

“It’s been a lot of intensity all at once,” Massamba said. “So, in the first weeks I’d say, it was really hard, and I got some, like, little pain that came in — I think it’s because of the high intensity we have in here. But after a while, I think I feel pretty well and tested.”

The transition to American basketball comes with slowing down the game to learn it, but speeding up the processes. Speed is what Massamba says is the biggest difference in the States.

But the 6-foot-5, 192-pound guard is stepping into a team that has a void to fill. With Chaz Lanier off to the NBA, the Vols need a two-guard. Alongside Burg, Massamba has a chance to claim a starting role with Tennessee this season.

It begins with closing the communication gap with Barnes and the other assistant coaches, but continues with taking the coaching he is given. Massamba understands what he signed up for, and that Barnes’ words are meant for encouragement.

“I kind of like that in the way that I know I’m growing,” Massamba said. “If it was just yelling and telling me some stuff that I knew were not true, it would have been something different. But I know he’s doing all that to make me grow and make me a better player. So I’ll definitely take it in.”

His length is an asset. And it helps him on the defensive side of the ball, where Barnes takes the most pride. If he can accelerate the learning curve fast enough, he can contribute to a team that can reach its best finish in program history.

“If last year and the year before it was back-to-back Elite Eight’s, I think the goal is definitely to go higher than that,” Massamba said. “I think we have a chance to win the championship this year.”

Justin Gainey coaches Ethan Burg (35) during an exhibition game against Duke at Food City Center, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

Tennessee basketball’s new assistant coaches adding ‘so much value’ to culture

TREVOR MCGEE Sports Editor

Rick Barnes and Steve McClain made a pit stop for some food amidst a recruiting trip in early October.

During their adventure, the pair of experienced coaches were profiled as siblings. Though they have no relation to each other, the wealth of knowledge they bring to Tennessee basketball could make them brothers in everything but name.

“We went into this place to eat, and I actually said, ‘Well, he is my older brother,’” Barnes said. “But he’s been around. He knows.”

Experience is the exact tone that Tennessee’s staff sets for 2025-26. When assistant openings became available, Barnes ensured his support system included candidates who had been around the college scene — exactly what he got in Amorrow Morgan and McClain.

The two combine for 55 years of coaching experience, including 39 years as assistants at the Division-I level. While 63-year-old McClain owns the bulk of stops, 38-yearold Morgan has made his way around power conference basketball with a pair of landings this offseason.

“They have unique backgrounds from where they’ve come from,” Garrett Medenwald, director of basketball sports performance, said. “And they’ve added so much value to our culture, and we’re really lucky to have them here.”

Veteran’s touch

McClain comes over from Texas, where he spent the last three seasons as an assistant to Rodney Terry. He adds experience by way of 13 seasons at the Power Five level, with an additional 17 years as a head coach.

That is what Barnes valued most, but the familiarity between Barnes and Terry made the transition ‘easy to fit in.’

“There was no question it probably gave coach a comfort of it, knowing that I kind of knew already how the program was going to be run coming in,” McClain said.

But the connection alone did not land him the job. His resume does plenty of talking, too.

McClain has played a part in the development of NBA top-10 picks Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller, Noah Vonleh and Tre Johnson. He helped coach Oladipo and Zeller to consensus All-American bids during his short time at Indiana.

He also had an instrumental role in the 2009-10 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Alec Burks, who went on to become the No. 12 pick in the NBA Draft.

Even in recent years, McClain’s presence has been spotlighted. In his two years as an

assistant at Georgia, he coached SEC assists leader Sahvir Wheeler and NBA draftee Toumani Camara, and he later worked with No. 6 pick Tre Johnson at Texas McClain is no stranger to turnover, so the adjustment to a new job with a new-look roster isn’t that different.

“I think when you’re a coach, the new guys kind of already know the standard of coming in,” McClain said. “And so between the returning guys making sure they know and them knowing it in the recruitment, it’s not that big of an adjustment.”

He’s also been around the block in many roles. McClain spent a large portion of his career as a head coach — both at a highprofile community college and then at the mid-major level. He led Hutchinson Community College to a 91-16 record over three seasons, claiming a national title in his last before jumping to the Division 1 level.

After a few seasons as a TCU assistant, Wyoming hired McClain as head coach. His tenure lasted nine seasons, during which he accumulated a 157-117 record with a pair of Mountain West Conference regular season championships and a MWC Coach of the Year award.

He earned a second head coaching stint at UIC for five seasons, inheriting a five-win program and turning it into 16-plus wins for the next four seasons. Ever since, he’s been in an assistant role — paving the way for the profiled “brothers” to finally get a chance to work together.

“I think it’s been easy because coach has such a veteran group of people around him,” McClain said. “And then coming from Texas, where I coached against him and knew the program, you kind of walk in already knowing what to expect. But coach makes it easy because you figure out what you can do and how you can help.”

As a head coach, McClain turned programs around. As an assistant, he’s developed multiple NBA players. His recent stints at Georgia and Texas gave him SEC experience.

“He’s one of those guys, again, talking about adapting and pivoting in the business, he understands it because he’s a grinder,” Barnes said.

Young but tested Morgan’s hiring came first this offseason, with the official announcement coming May 2, 2025. The Memphis, Tennessee, native brings a tie to West Tennessee — a region loaded with premier basketball talent.

As the youngest assistant coach on the Vols’ staff, he brings a unique relator trait to the recruiting scene. It’s what made Morgan the ‘first choice’ for Barnes.

“He’s got an incredible work ethic,” Barnes said. “You can tell he’s worked really hard in the business up to this point, where he knows a lot of people. And he’s just been

great with the players.”

Morgan, a former player at Idaho State, quickly got his start as an assistant coach at Division-II Illinois-Springfield and has since worked throughout the assistant ranks with stops at Division-I Nicholls State, South Alabama, Loyola Chicago and Cal.

He also spent six weeks of the offseason at Florida State, but Barnes reeled him away with the Vols offer.

Morgan’s short tenure with the Golden Bears was also a successful one. In his first season, he helped Cal increase its win total by 10. Over his two years, he helped bring in two top-12 transfer classes, according to On3.

His player development includes NBA first-rounder Jalon Tyson, as well as all-conference player Andre Stojakovic, alongside ACC Sixth Man of the Year Jeremiah Wilkinson.

With less than half the experience of McClain, Morgan has built a stacked resume of his own. As he also garners much of the same assistant experience, like McClain, that has made the transition to Tennessee easier.

“I would say it’s been a pretty seamless transition,” Morgan said. “It’s been easy to adjust just with the structure that we have in place. I think our staff — of any staff that I’ve ever been on, I’ve been on several — it’s the most organized staff, most put together. And they do a really good job of explaining, like, our culture and the expectation here and what we do.”

Being a Tennessee guy and following the program his entire life, Morgan had to pick up on the culture quickly, seeing it as an ‘opportunity of a lifetime.’

So as he picks up on the culture, he’s able to see it translate down to the players.

“I just think the standard has been set so high,” Morgan said. “Obviously, coach Barnes is coach Barnes. So from the first film session, it was pretty awesome to see everybody going around the room from a returner standpoint, just kind of like talking about their experiences here … how they grew within our program and what they learned from Jahmai (Mashack) and what they learned from Jordan Gainey. And I think all that has helped all these newcomers kind of understand what the standard is.

“That’s been probably the most surprising thing to me is just the willingness of even the freshmen and the transfers, despite coming from wherever they’re coming from, just how they’ve all adapted just to our culture in their day-to-day.”

As McClain and Morgan assume their roles with player development at the top of mind, their presence is valuable to Tennessee basketball. And the Vols want to ensure they get the most out of their time on the sideline.

“You just want to help these guys get better, improve,” assistant coach Gregg Polinsky said. “I say this all the time: add value to their life. That’s really important for us.”

Graphic by Emma Fingeret, photos by Cole Moore

Photo Gallery

Jaylen Carey (23) drives to the basket during a game against Mercer at Food City Center. Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon

Ja’Kobi Gillespie (0) battles during a game against Mercer at Food City Center. Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon

Zee Spearman (11) lays in the ball during an exhibition game against Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon

Jersey Wolfenbarger (8) celebrates a play during a game against Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. David Smith / The Daily Beacon

Lauren Hurst (7) fights for the ball during a game against Columbus State at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. David Smith / The Daily Beacon

What Lady Vols basketball roster features heading into 2025-26 season

GIANNA FERNANDES

Contributor

Returners

Guard Talaysia Cooper

Taylasia Cooper was a dominant force on both sides of the ball for the Lady Vols last season. Cooper led the team with a season average of 16.6 points, 3.1 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. She was also second on the team in rebounds and assists per game with 5.6 and 3.2, respective ly. Her 105 total steals led the SEC and ranked eighth nationally. The redshirt sophomore was named to the Coaches SEC All-Defensive Team in her first season with the Lady Vols. “She has the ceiling to be one of the best players in the country,” head coach Kim Caldwell said. “She’s a different player, a better player, right now than she was at the end of last

Forward Janiah Barker

Before transferring to Tennessee, Janiah Bark er spent her first two seasons at Texas A&M and her junior year at UCLA. Barker has averaged 10.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game

Freshmen

The Lady Vols will debut many fresh faces this season.

After losing nine players to graduation and the transfer portal, the Lady Vols

year, and I think at the end of last year she was probably playing the best basketball that you guys have seen.”

Forward Zee Spearman

A consistent face for the Lady Vols, Zee Spearman played in all 34 games last season and started in 23. In that time, the 6-foot-4 forward put her height to use, notching a team-leading 204 rebounds. Spearman also averaged a career high of 11.7 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Guard Kaiya Wynn

Guard Jaida Civil

Jaida Civil was ranked as the number one small forward in her class according to 247Sports.She was also selected as a McDonald’s All-American and as the Florida Gatorade Player of the year her senior season. Last season she averaged 18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game.

across her career. She was named the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year last season.

Guard Nya Robertson

Nya Robertson was a dominant scorer at George Washington University and SMU before transferring to Tennessee. Her career average points per game is 16.3, and she peaked last

recruited five freshmen and three established transfers to join the returning squad for the 2025-26 campaign. This roster will look significantly different from last year’s, with eight out of 14 players being new to Tennessee. These are the returners, transfers and freshmen that will be representing Lady Vol basketball this season.

After missing the 2024-25 season due to a torn Achilles tendon in her right leg, Kaiya Wynn will be returning this season for her fifth year with the Lady Vols. Before her injury, Wynn was a consistent player, making an appearance in 30-plus games in each of her first three seasons.

“She knows what it’s like to be a Lady Vol,” Caldwell said.

“She knows what that means, and she’s doing a re-

season with SMU at 18.5. She led SMU with 499 points, 62 three-pointers and 111 free throws.

Forward Jersey Wolfenbarger

Jersey Wolfenbarger joins the Lady Vols with three seasons of SEC experience under her belt. She

ally good job of communicating that to our eight new ones.”

Forward Alyssa Latham

Alyssa Latham was the first player from the transfer portal to commit following the hiring of head coach Caldwell in 2024. In her first year at Tennessee, Latham averaged 3.9 points per game on 47.8% shooting and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Guard Kaniya Boyd

As a redshirt-freshman last season, Kaniya Boyd appeared in 33 games and was a starter in four. Boyd was third on the team in steals with 42 and in assist-to-turnover ratio with 1.9.

Transfers

spent last season at LSU after playing her freshman and sophomore seasons at Arkansas. Wolfenbarger led LSU in field goal percentage at 63% and averaged 4.6 points per game.

“She’s the fastest player I’ve ever seen at her size,” Caldwell said. “She can run on the track with our guards and be right up there with the guards. She’s almost like a freak of nature in that regard.”

Guard Mia Pauldo

One-half of the Pauldo twins joining the Lady Vols, Mia Pauldo, is ranked ninth in her class and fourth amongst point guards according to espnW 100. The McDonald’s AllAmerican and Gatorade New Jersey Girls Basketball Player of the Year also received All-State recognition all four years of high school. She tallied 2,143 points, 587 assists, 495 rebounds and 359 steals across her storied career.

Guard Mya Pauldo

Mya Pauldo is the other half of the twin backcourt that helped lead Morris Catholic High School to four state championship appearances and three

consecutive state championships from 2023-25. The pair boasted a 109-6 record throughout their career. In her senior year, she averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.

Guard Deniya Prawl

Five-star recruit Deniya Prawl is ranked sixth in her class by 247Sports and is the first Lady Vol basketball player to originate from Canada. Prawl helped lead IMG Academy to a national title her senior year and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2024 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup.

Guard/Forward Lauren Hurst Tennessee landed the highest-

ranked recruit in the state with four-star Lauren Hurst. Hurst averaged doubledigit points per game in each of her three seasons on varsity. She also made the Tennessee State Writers Association AllState Team in both 2024 and 2025. She and her brother Grant Hurst are the first brother-sister duo to play basketball for the Vols at the same time.

Key transfers, freshmen highlight new-look roster for Tennessee

RYAN HANNA Staff Writer

The Vols will feature a host of highly talented freshmen this season, and none is bigger than five-star forward Nate Ament.

Ament is the crown jewel of Barnes’ 2025 recruiting class, and the dynamic forward is ready to go for the regular season.

Ament was named a Naismith First Team All-American, a MaxPreps First Team All-American, MaxPreps Virginia Player of the Year and VISAA Division I

Tennessee has a top-30-ranked transfer portal class with just three big signees for the Vols.

For a class with such a small quantity, Barnes made the most of his portal splashes. First up was Maryland point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who was one of four players on Maryland’s roster to play all 36 games last season.

In a full sample size, Gillespie averaged 14.7 points per game, 4.8 assists, 2.8

Returners

Tennessee basketball enters 2025-26 ranked No. 18 in the AP preseason poll with a host of new talent on the roster. As the age

Player of the Year for his dominant 2024 senior season at Charles J. Colgan High School. The 6-foot-10, 207-pound freshman is going to play a large role in the physicality of the offense the Vols will run this season.

Beyond Ament, though, Tennessee’s 2025 freshman class is highlighted by guards Amari Evans, Clarence Massamba, Troy Henderson and forward DeWayne Brown II.

Barnes’ 2025 class ranks eighth overall in the nation heading into the season, and with a roster featuring a lot of turnover, the Vols will need a big impact out of their highly ranked freshman stars.

Evans, a consensus top-10 recruit in the state of Georgia, enters as a four-star pickup for

Yet the most important part of the 2025-26 Vols squad will be the remainder of the returning core. With several key players slated to

of stars like Dalton Knecht, Chaz Lanier and Zakai Ziegler has come to a close, a new era begins for head coach Rick Barnes and Tennessee. For a team with

the Vols with a physical presence whose strength is defense. The 6-foot-5 standout picked up two Overtime Elite Defensive Player of the Year awards in high school, setting the program record for steals with 118 while averaging 2.5 steals per game for the Atlanta-based Overtime Elite.

Henderson and Massamba will also play a key role in Tennessee’s defensive scheme this season, with the pair of freshman guards coming off strong high school finishes. Massamba averaged 11.7 points per

rebounds and 1.9 steals in 31.6 minutes per game, posting a 45.3 percent clip from the field, a 40.7 percent mark from deep. The senior pickup will highlight the Vols’ offense this season alongside some returners, as well as Jaylen Carey and Amaree Abram.

Carey, a junior center coming in from Vanderbilt, is coming off a season that saw him get in all 33 of the Commodores’ games, including the team’s NCAA Tournament bid. He might not produce eye-popping offensive numbers, but Carey has a knack for rebounds, leading the SEC in total offensive

return, Barnes will still have some veteran experience to rely on, even with a new roster.

At the forefront of the returning core are redshirt sophomore J.P. Estrella, junior forward Cade Phillips and senior forward Felix Okpara. Estrella went down with a season-ending foot injury last year, but is full go heading into this year. Estrella is Tennessee’s best big man option and can create plays at the rim for the Vols.

Okpara had an up-and-down year in 2024-25 on the stat sheet, but started all 38 games for Tennessee, which set a program record.

While his offensive production wasn’t

a plethora of new faces, so comes a roster flush with talent. As the Vols get ready for the season ahead, here’s a look at a largely new roster for Tennessee.

game, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.7 minutes per game, while Henderson averaged 13.7 points per game, 6.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as a senior in his lone year at John Marshall High School in Virginia.

Brown II was a four-star recruit out of Alabama, ranked 71st overall nationally, who will likely factor into the offense for Barnes and the Vols this season. The center led his high school to three AHSAA 7A state championships, collecting ASWA 7A First Team All-State nominations in each of those seasons.

where Tennessee would like it to be, Okpara led the team in blocks and offensive rebounds. Rebounding has been an issue for the Vols the last several seasons, so Tennessee will need another strong effort out of Okpara, picking up shots this year.

For Phillips, whose breakout 2024-25 campaign took over the load of an injured Estrella, this season will be a big one. He led the team in field goal percentage, shooting 63.0% from the floor while ranking

rebounds during conference play last season.

Abram, meanwhile, is coming off a strong 2024 season with Louisiana Tech that saw him start all 32 games and lead the team in 3-pointers made with 66 and free throw percentage. He finished second on the team in five other offensive areas and could generate a lot of looks in the Tennessee offense.