Scheduled to lose:
PG- Jordan Bone
Combo guard- Lamonte Turner
Wing- Jordan Bowden
PF- Grant Williams
2019 Signed:
Combo Guard- Josiah James 6'6
Wing/Forward- Davonte Gaines 6'8
Forward- Drew Pember 6'10
C- DJ Burns 6'9- Am including him here due to redshirting and essentially being in this class.
My personal thoughts are they need at least 2 guards who can really go. I'm talking go out on the court and make people pay by getting into the lane and creating their own shot. Just studs who the other team fears. Like we currently have in Bone, Bowden and Turner. Those 3 can really go. 1 forward to replace Grant. 1 true big who can battle on the block, protect the rim and control the boards. Ideally this guy is 6'9 plus.
Numbers are the question. In college sports transfers are very real BUT this Tennessee basketball program is different. Trending towards the Belmont model of never having players transfer. Guys what their turn and when its time they go hoop and produce. I wouldn't be shocked if we kept all of our guys. Really in a perfect world I think you need to be able to take another wing/bigger combo guard. Ideally someone who can really shot it and defend multiple positions. Coaches going to have to trust their evals of Gaines and Pember to add the length that we need. They will both be redshirt freshman when this 2020 class comes in. Trust those evals and focus on adding a true wing shooter IMO. By the way I think both Gaines and Pember are going to be really nice players here. Their skillsets are pretty rare at the HS level. It is now about adding strength which is where S&C coach earns his $$$
Seems the top priorities for 2020 are:
Guard/Wing- Keon Johnson- He is the perfect replacement for Bowden. Big time athlete with length. Similar to Bowden. Doesn't shoot it quite as well. Maybe a touch longer and a bit more athletic (although Bowden is a stud here too).
C- Walker Kessler- pretty rare skillset for a HS 7 footer. Needs to add strength but his skill level is impressive.
Combo- Jaden Springer- elite talent, very easily could be 1 and done.
F- Corey Walker- need to see more film on him.
Combo- Jayden Stone- really good shooter. Not sure he is athletic enough to be a pure PG. Probably plays off the ball.
PG- Jalen Cone- true PG and IMO the guy I hope we put the full court press on. He has range, big time elevation on his jump shot/pull up and will dunk all over you. #60 overall is to low for him.
Wing- Sam Ruzhentsev- criminally underrated right now. This kid is a stud an pretty much the total package when it comes to a wing player.
Forward- PJ Hall- ideal fit for what Barnes wants to do
Combo- Matthew Murrell- athletically he is a freak
How does this look @Rob Lewis
Personally if it were me and I could chose (obviously we won't be able to land them all)
PG- Jalen Cone
G/Wing- Keon Johnson
F- Walker
C- Kessler
If a spot opens I think you go best player available between Springer and Sam R. Springer is obviously an elite talent but could very easily be 1 and done. Sam R is a 4 year guy who I am convinced is an All SEC player as an upperclassmen.
PG- Jordan Bone
Combo guard- Lamonte Turner
Wing- Jordan Bowden
PF- Grant Williams
2019 Signed:
Combo Guard- Josiah James 6'6
Wing/Forward- Davonte Gaines 6'8
Forward- Drew Pember 6'10
C- DJ Burns 6'9- Am including him here due to redshirting and essentially being in this class.
My personal thoughts are they need at least 2 guards who can really go. I'm talking go out on the court and make people pay by getting into the lane and creating their own shot. Just studs who the other team fears. Like we currently have in Bone, Bowden and Turner. Those 3 can really go. 1 forward to replace Grant. 1 true big who can battle on the block, protect the rim and control the boards. Ideally this guy is 6'9 plus.
Numbers are the question. In college sports transfers are very real BUT this Tennessee basketball program is different. Trending towards the Belmont model of never having players transfer. Guys what their turn and when its time they go hoop and produce. I wouldn't be shocked if we kept all of our guys. Really in a perfect world I think you need to be able to take another wing/bigger combo guard. Ideally someone who can really shot it and defend multiple positions. Coaches going to have to trust their evals of Gaines and Pember to add the length that we need. They will both be redshirt freshman when this 2020 class comes in. Trust those evals and focus on adding a true wing shooter IMO. By the way I think both Gaines and Pember are going to be really nice players here. Their skillsets are pretty rare at the HS level. It is now about adding strength which is where S&C coach earns his $$$
Seems the top priorities for 2020 are:
Guard/Wing- Keon Johnson- He is the perfect replacement for Bowden. Big time athlete with length. Similar to Bowden. Doesn't shoot it quite as well. Maybe a touch longer and a bit more athletic (although Bowden is a stud here too).
C- Walker Kessler- pretty rare skillset for a HS 7 footer. Needs to add strength but his skill level is impressive.
Combo- Jaden Springer- elite talent, very easily could be 1 and done.
F- Corey Walker- need to see more film on him.
Combo- Jayden Stone- really good shooter. Not sure he is athletic enough to be a pure PG. Probably plays off the ball.
PG- Jalen Cone- true PG and IMO the guy I hope we put the full court press on. He has range, big time elevation on his jump shot/pull up and will dunk all over you. #60 overall is to low for him.
Wing- Sam Ruzhentsev- criminally underrated right now. This kid is a stud an pretty much the total package when it comes to a wing player.
Forward- PJ Hall- ideal fit for what Barnes wants to do
Combo- Matthew Murrell- athletically he is a freak
How does this look @Rob Lewis
Personally if it were me and I could chose (obviously we won't be able to land them all)
PG- Jalen Cone
G/Wing- Keon Johnson
F- Walker
C- Kessler
If a spot opens I think you go best player available between Springer and Sam R. Springer is obviously an elite talent but could very easily be 1 and done. Sam R is a 4 year guy who I am convinced is an All SEC player as an upperclassmen.
Last edited:
