Tennessee basketball adds Cal guard Dai Dai Ames from transfer portal

Tennessee basketball adds Cal guard Dai Dai Ames from transfer portal

Tennessee basketball addresses offense first in the transfer portal, adding guard Dai Dai Ames, he confirmed with a shared Instagram post on April 11.

Ames joins Belmont graduate transfer guard Tyler Lundblade as the Vols' first offseason acquisitions.

Ames is a three-time transfer, originally starting at Kansas State. He left for Virginia in the 2024-25 season and started 26 of 31 games, then came to Cal for the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot-2 Ames averaged 16.9 points, 2.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds for the Golden Bears.

Fans walk around the atrium before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

A Tennessee fan jokingly covers his friend's Michigan logo while taking photos before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

Fans sit in the stands before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

Fans take photos with the Michael Jordan statue before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

Fans walk the concourse before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

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Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament vs Michigan Elite 8, our top photos

Fans walk around the atrium before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

1 / 5

Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament vs Michigan Elite 8, our top photos

Fans walk around the atrium before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

2 / 5

Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament vs Michigan Elite 8, our top photos

A Tennessee fan jokingly covers his friend's Michigan logo while taking photos before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

3 / 5

Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament vs Michigan Elite 8, our top photos

Fans sit in the stands before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

4 / 5

Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament vs Michigan Elite 8, our top photos

Fans take photos with the Michael Jordan statue before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

5 / 5

Tennessee basketball, Nate Ament vs Michigan Elite 8, our top photos

Fans walk the concourse before a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said after the Vols' loss to Michigan that they needed more offense. Tennessee's first two portal additions are an attempt to solve that problem.

Lundblade is an elite shooter who achieved a 40% mark from 3-point range the last two seasons, while Ames was the leading scorer in a career-best season for California.

The two join confirmed returning freshmen Troy Henderson and DeWayne Brown II.

Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball adds Cal guard Dai Dai Ames from transfer portal