Tennessee basketball is restructuring its roster for the 2026-27 season, with only two returning players confirmed. The team has added three high school recruits amid significant departures from last season's starting lineup.
Key points
Tennessee basketball is rebuilding for the 2026-27 season
Only two returning players confirmed
Four of five starters have transferred or exhausted eligibility
Three incoming high school recruits added
Mentioned in this story
DeWayne Brown IITroy HendersonRalph ScottManny GreenMarquis Clark
Tennessee basketball
Where Tennessee basketball roster stands after first wave of transfer portal additions
Freshman forward DeWayne Brown II and freshman guard Troy Henderson are the Vols' only two confirmed returning players. Four of the Vols five starters have either transferred or exhausted their eligibility.
Tennessee has three incoming high school recruits in 6-foot-8 forward Ralph Scott, 6-6 wing Manny Green and 6-1 guard Marquis Clark.
As of April 15, Tennessee has added four transfers. The Vols have nine players on the roster with six more available slots.
Here's what Tennessee has done in the offseason, and what it still needs from the portal.
Rick Barnes targeting offense early for Tennessee roster
Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes cited lack of offense as a main reason for the Vols' 95-62 loss to Michigan in the Elite Eight.
Of the Vols' four offseason additions, three can score in a variety of ways.
Belmont graduate transfer Tyler Lundblade committed to Tennessee on April 1 as one of the top outside shooters in the country. The 6-5 guard shot 48% from 3-point range in the 2024-25 season, then maintained a 40.6% mark last season on an increased 8.8 attempts per game.
Q&A
Who are the confirmed returning players for Tennessee basketball?
The confirmed returning players for Tennessee basketball are freshman forward DeWayne Brown II and freshman guard Troy Henderson.
What changes have occurred in the Tennessee basketball roster?
Four of the five starters from last season have either transferred or exhausted their eligibility, leading to a significant roster overhaul.
Who are the new recruits joining Tennessee basketball?
Tennessee basketball has added three high school recruits: Ralph Scott, Manny Green, and Marquis Clark.
What is the focus for Tennessee basketball in the 2026-27 season?
The focus for Tennessee basketball in the 2026-27 season is to rebuild the roster after significant player departures.
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California guard Dai Dai Ames is more of an all-around scorer. Ames averaged 16.9 points for the Golden Bears on 46.4% shooting from the field.
Notre Dame's standout 6-foot-7 freshman forward Jalen Haralson committed to Tennessee on April 15. He was the Irish's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points on 51.5% shooting, and primarily did his damage from inside the 3-point arc.
Even Loyola (Chicago) transfer center Miles Rubin has utility on the offensive end. Though he profiles as a defensive rim protector with 2.3 blocks per game, the 6-foot-10 Rubin averaged 11.3 points as a junior and presents a lob threat in the paint.
Tennessee basketball trending toward experience
Barnes often mentioned how many younger, less experienced players he had on the floor in clutch situations. Tennessee relied heavily on freshmen Nate Ament, Amari Evans and DeWayne Brown.
Sophomore Bishop Boswell was a consistent starter, and his classmate Ethan Burg cracked the rotation late in the season. Although redshirt sophomore J.P. Estrella had been in Barnes' system for three seasons, injuries varied his playing time until late in SEC play.
Ames, Lundblade and Rubin all only have one season of eligibility remaining. While Tennessee again made the Elite Eight with a young core, Barnes turned to veteran players in the portal.
Nate Ament NBA draft decision timeline
Several potential NBA draft picks have already declared, including projected top five selection Caleb Wilson from North Carolina.
Ament has not yet put out a statement indicating either a return to Tennessee to a draft declaration. The likely lottery choice has until April 24, which is the early entry player deadline.
What Tennessee basketball still needs from portal
Tennessee has filled out some of its roster depth, but it still has multiple areas of need.
The frontcourt is almost empty. Rubin and Brown are the only big men on the team after Estrella (Michigan), Jaylen Carey (Missouri) and Cade Phillips entered the transfer portal. Last season, the Vols had a rotation of four frontcourt players. Haralson is listed at 6-foot-7, but he only averaged four rebounds and operated more from the wing.
Guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie exhausted his eligibility, causing Tennessee to not only lose its leading scorer, but also its best playmaker. No one currently on the roster can set up teammates for open looks like Gillespie.
Go-to scoring remains an area of improvement without Gillespie and potentially Ament, though the Vols hope they fixed the problem with Ames and Haralson. Ames might be able to replicate Gillespie's production with another leap.
Haralson would have to expand his offensive game out to the 3-point arc to become an all-around threat. He only attempted 25 3's last season at Notre Dame.
