New Tennessee guard Jalen Haralson had a one-word social media post regarding Rick Barnes’ latest major pickup
Rick Barnes has been doing major work in the transfer portal as he reloads the Vols for another push for the program’s first Final Four in 2026-27.
The Tennessee Vols could be building something special for the 2026-27 season, and one of its newest members even couldn’t contain his feelings about it on social media on Sunday.
Rick Barnes secured the commitment of VCU guard Terrence Hill, Jr. out of the transfer portal on Sunday, who had visited Kansas earlier in the week.
And recent commit, guard Jalen Haralson from Notre Dame, responded on Twitter (X) with one word (and a laughing emoji) — yikes.
New Tennessee Vols guard Jalen Haralson said ‘yikes’ on Twitter (X) regarding commitment of VCU guard Terrence Hill, Jr.
As in, yikes, what a ridiculous class that Barnes is putting together.
Haralson, a former McDonald’s All-American, was a big fish in the portal after spending his freshman season at Notre Dame. He averaged 16.2 points per game last year for the Irish and, at 6-7, 220 pounds, gives Tennessee a long and versatile scorer at the guard position. He committed to Tennessee back on April 15.
Now, he’ll have Hill as his teammate in Knoxville next year. Hill took an enormous step forward last year for VCU, going from 3.4 ppg to 15.0 from his freshman to sophomore year with the Rams.
Hill was very much in the public eye last month, when VCU took on North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Hill totaled 34 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the Rams’ 82-78 come from way behind overtime win over the Tar Heels.
We’ll see if Barnes is done, as target Juke Harris (Wake Forest) has yet to announce his intentions. But for now, yikes is a great word to describe how opponents in 2026-27 could be feeling when dealing with the Vols’ rejuvenated roster.