What Rick Barnes said about new Tennessee point guard Terrence Hill Jr.

TL;DR

Terrence Hill Jr. has signed with the University of Tennessee after a standout season at VCU, where he averaged 15 points per game. Coach Rick Barnes praised Hill's leadership and dynamic play, expecting him to make an immediate impact on the team.

Key points

Terrence Hill Jr. signed with the University of Tennessee.
He averaged 15 points per game at VCU last season.
Rick Barnes praised Hill's leadership and dynamic play.

Mentioned in this story

University of TennesseeVCU Rams

Terrence Hill Jr.Ja’Kobi GillespieDai Dai AmesTyler Lundblade

Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; VCU Rams guard Terrence Hill Jr. (6) celebrates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in overtime of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images After a whirlwind of a week, former VCU point guard Terrence Hill Jr. has officially signed with the University of Tennessee. The Volunteers were hot in pursuit of Hill from the start, coming off of his 34-point outing against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee survived an early visit to Kansas, getting him on campus in the middle of last week. On Sunday, the deal was done. Hill, although not as pure of a point guard as those before him in Knoxville, will fill the shoes of Ja’Kobi Gillespie. “Terrence comes from a great family and we are pleased to welcome them all to the Tennessee basketball program. He is a focused, mature and committed person who possesses clear leadership qualities,” Rick Barnes said via official release on Monday. Hill is coming off of his sophomore season at VCU, where he averaged 15 points per game. The 6-3, 180 pound guard earned first-team All-A-10 honors after developing into a go-to scorer for the Rams last season. Hill shot 46.6 percent from the floor and 37 percent from three-point range. Hill was a consensus top 25 overall player in the transfer portal. “We are bringing Terrence here to make an immediate, significant impact and we feel great about his ability to do so,” Barnes said. “He is a dynamic player with speed, quickness, a strong basketball IQ and extreme confidence. Terrence can separate off the bounce and can put the ball in the basket from all three levels. He will mesh well with the way we run our offense.” Hill joins , Tyler Lundblade and Troy Henderson in the Tennessee backcourt. The Volunteers will also bring in 3-star point guard Marquis Clark, along with two 4-star wings — Manny Green and Ralph Scott. Tennessee has also added Notre Dame star forward and Loyola-Chicago rim protector Miles Rubin. The Volunteers remain in pursuit of Wake Forest guard and await an official NBA decision from . Both of those situations feel like they need to be resolved before Tennessee makes anymore decisions, although the need for frontcourt depth remains obvious.

Q&A

What did Rick Barnes say about Terrence Hill Jr.'s signing?

Rick Barnes highlighted Hill's leadership qualities, maturity, and commitment, stating he will make an immediate impact on the team.

How did Terrence Hill Jr. perform at VCU before transferring?

At VCU, Hill averaged 15 points per game, earned first-team All-A-10 honors, and shot 46.6% from the field.

Who else is joining Tennessee's backcourt alongside Terrence Hill Jr.?

Hill will join Dai Dai Ames, Tyler Lundblade, and Troy Henderson in the Tennessee backcourt, along with incoming recruits Marquis Clark, Manny Green, and Ralph Scott.