Tennessee basketball has signed transfer guard Terrence Hill Jr. from VCU to replace All-SEC point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie. Coach Rick Barnes praised Hill's leadership qualities and commitment to making an immediate impact.
Key points
Tennessee basketball signed Terrence Hill Jr. from VCU
Hill replaces All-SEC point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie
Rick Barnes praised Hill's leadership and maturity
Hill committed on April 19, 2023
Mentioned in this story
Tennessee basketballVCU
Terrence Hill Jr.
What Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes said about transfer guard Terrence Hill Jr.
Tennessee basketball may have found its replacement for All-SEC point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie.
The Vols added a fourth player from the transfer portal with a commitment from Terrence Hill Jr. of VCU on April 19. They needed a lead guard to run the offense with Gillespie out of eligibility.
"Terrence comes from a great family and we are pleased to welcome them all to the Tennessee basketball program," coach Rick Barnes said in a school release on April 20. "He is a focused, mature and committed person who possesses clear leadership qualities. We are bringing Terrence here to make an immediate, significant impact and we feel great about his ability to do so.
"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."
Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Q&A
Who is Terrence Hill Jr. and where did he transfer from?
Terrence Hill Jr. is a guard who transferred to Tennessee basketball from VCU.
What did Rick Barnes say about Terrence Hill Jr.'s qualities?
Rick Barnes described Hill as focused, mature, and possessing clear leadership qualities.
Why did Tennessee basketball need to sign Terrence Hill Jr.?
Tennessee needed to sign Hill to replace All-SEC point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who is out of eligibility.
When did Terrence Hill Jr. commit to Tennessee basketball?
Terrence Hill Jr. committed to Tennessee basketball on April 19.
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Tennessee forward DeWayne Brown II (6) moves towards the basket while guarded by Texas forward Camden Heide (5) in an NCAA college basketball game on January 6, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.
Tennessee guard Troy Henderson (24) dribbles past Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during a NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 17, 2026.
Feb 7, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jalen Haralson (10) drives to the basket as Florida State Seminoles guard Lajae Jones (10) defends during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Jan 2, 2026; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) looks to drive around Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Braeden Shrewsberry (11) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Belmont's Tyler Lundblade, right, lines up one of his three-pointers against Bradley in the second half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 at Carver Arena. Lundblade dropped eight three-pointers and the Braves fell to the Bruins 80-77.
Mar 15, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Loyola Chicago Ramblers center Miles Rubin (24) shoots the ball as VCU Rams forward Luke Bamgboye (9) defends in the first half in a semifinal of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
IMG's Ralph Scott blocks a dunk attempt at IMG Academy on Feb. 7, 2025.
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Tennessee forward DeWayne Brown II (6) moves towards the basket while guarded by Texas forward Camden Heide (5) in an NCAA college basketball game on January 6, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Tennessee guard Troy Henderson (24) dribbles past Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during a NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 17, 2026.
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Feb 7, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jalen Haralson (10) drives to the basket as Florida State Seminoles guard Lajae Jones (10) defends during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Jan 2, 2026; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) looks to drive around Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Braeden Shrewsberry (11) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Belmont's Tyler Lundblade, right, lines up one of his three-pointers against Bradley in the second half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 at Carver Arena. Lundblade dropped eight three-pointers and the Braves fell to the Bruins 80-77.
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
Mar 15, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Loyola Chicago Ramblers center Miles Rubin (24) shoots the ball as VCU Rams forward Luke Bamgboye (9) defends in the first half in a semifinal of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additions
IMG's Ralph Scott blocks a dunk attempt at IMG Academy on Feb. 7, 2025.
The 6-foot-3 Hill spent his first two seasons with the Rams. He improved drastically as a sophomore, jumping up from 3.4 points per game as a freshman to 15.0 points last season. Hill led VCU in scoring on 46.6% shooting from the floor and 37% from 3, and he averaged 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds.
Despite being the leading scorer, Hill only started in two out of 36 games last season, yet he was third on the team with 25 minutes per contest.
Hill flashed his elite shooting ability in VCU's 82-78 upset victory over North Carolina in the first round of the Men's NCAA Tournament. He scored 34 points, bucketed seven 3-pointers and added five rebounds and five assists.
The Rams lost by 21 points in the next round against Illinois, who made the Final Four, but Hill still finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.
Hill is the latest of Tennessee's growing list of offseason acquisitions. The Vols started with Belmont graduate transfer Tyler Lundblade and added a pair of Chicago natives in California guard Dai Dai Ames and Loyola center Miles Rubin. They also received commitments from Notre Dame forward Jalen Haralson and four-star high school prospect Chris Washington Jr.
