Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Vols are in a tough spot with the transfer portal, but a late portal entry could be a perfect solution
Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Vols have been on fire in the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, but there’s still work to be done. The Vols still need to add another scoring threat from the portal.
Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Vols have been very productive in the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, landing five transfer additions so far.
The Vols’ work this offseason, however, isn’t done yet.
Tennessee still needs to add an elite scorer.
The top two options to fill that role for the Vols next season are Nate Ament, who is considering the 2026 NBA Draft after a solid freshman season on Rocky Top, and Wake Forest transfer guard Juke Harris, who is also considering the draft, along with considering Michigan and North Carolina.
There’s no guarantee either player will suit up for the Vols next season, and their decisions could drag out for another month.
“You’re looking at another month (for a decision from Ament),” said VolQuest’s Austin Price this week on 104.5 The Zone. “These kids are going to go through the NBA Draft process. I think, at minimum, another two to three weeks (for a decision). Same thing with Juke Harris in a lot of ways. And so you’re really at their mercy. That’s the hard part for Rick (Barnes) and company is they could end up with a big late addition, or they could see both end up going to the NBA. Or you could have Nate go to the NBA and Juke come back to college and not pick Tennessee.”
A “backup option” for Tennessee just entered the NCAA transfer portal
Some folks may disagree, but I think landing either Ament or Harris is more of a need for the Vols than a want. I think Tennessee needs a dynamic go-to scoring option to truly make this a championship-contending roster next season.
I also think there’s a good chance that Tennessee ends up with either Ament or Harris, but the Vols would be wise to protect themselves in case they miss out on both.
That’s why Tennessee should check in on Baylor transfer guard Tounde Yessoufou, who entered the NCAA transfer portal just before it closed.
Yessoufou, a former five-star recruit from Cotonou, Benin, averaged 17.8 points per game as a freshman last season. He also averaged 2.0 steals per game.
Yessoufou is also considering the 2026 NBA Draft, so this is another decision that could drag out another month.
“I’m anticipating Yessoufou’s recruitment will drag a little bit until he realizes it’s probably better to come back to college next season,” said 247sports national basketball analyst Travis Branham on College Basketball Talk. “If I were a betting man, I’d be betting he’s in college basketball in 2026-27.”
Ament and Harris are better fits for the Vols (due mostly to their familiarity with Tennessee….Harris was heavily recruited by UT as a high school player), but Yessoufou could certainly fill the scoring role for Barnes.
Tennessee would be smart to at least have some conversations with Yessoufou to see if he’s interested while the Vols wait on the decisions from Ament and Harris.
The Volunteers need a backup plan in case they don’t receive positive news from Ament and Harris. Yessoufou would be an ideal option.