Four Names To Watch In The Transfer Portal For Vol Hoops
Image: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
By Cody McClure
One of the greatest eras in the history of Tennessee Basketball has come to an end.
The Vols are losing a multitude of senior players, including the likes of Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, Chaz Lanier, and Jordan Gainey.
That means it’s now transfer portal season. And it is wide open.
Below are some names to keep an eye on when it comes to who the Vols may land.
Isaac McKneely — Shooting Guard, Virginia
McKneely is reportedly in Knoxville tonight. He’s set to visit the university tomorrow. The path seems clear for McKneely to immediately work his way into the starting lineup at Tennessee, if he chooses to transfer here. The Vols will be in desperate need of shooters after all the graduating departures the program is facing.
McKneely is a top target in the transfer portal and also has significant interest in Louisville with some interest in Virginia and North Carolina. He’s 6-foot-4. This past season, he hit over 100 three-pointers and made the triples at a 42 percent rate.
On3’s Joe Tipton says it’s shaping up to be a two-team race for McKneely. Tennessee should be one of those teams.
Alvaro Folgueiras — Forward, Robert Morris
This Robert Morris big man jumped in the portal last week. Listed as a 6-foot-9 forward, Folgueiras has a wingspan like a condor. “Alvaro the Spanish condor” has a nice ring to it. He’s Spanish. Folgueiras started 34 games for the Colonials this past season.
He averaged over 14 points per game and shot close to 55 percent while leading the team with over nine rebounds per game. He also posted an impressive double-double in the NCAA Tournament against Alabama with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Vols are reportedly interested in Folgueiras. We’ll see if they are able to work something out.
I hope UT lands this guy based on the photo below alone. I mean look at this dude’s wingspan. Wow.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie — Point Guard, Maryland
Gillespie is coming off a stellar year as part of the “Crab Five” at Maryland. He had a handful of games in which he performed very well, scoring at least 17 points against Ohio State, Syracuse, UCLA, Nebraska, and Indiana. His career high was 27 points in the UCLA game.
A Greeneville, Tennessee native, Gillespie has ties to the state. He previously played at Belmont in Nashville, as well, before transferring to Maryland. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection after his performance in 2024-25. With the Terrapins coach Kevin Willard departing for Villanova, the door should be open to potentially bring Gillespie home.
As of this afternoon, he’s officially in the portal:
Elyjah Freeman — Forward, Lincoln Memorial
Tipton said a few days ago that Tennessee was a “team to watch” when it comes to Freeman. At 6-foot-8, Freeman averaged close to 19 points per game this past season in addition to pulling down over nine rebounds per game. (As a true freshman).
He’s one of the top players in the portal, according to On3. Freeman reportedly said he may wait until after the spring semester before committing to a team.
Kentucky is another team that may be interested in Freeman. It would make sense geographically for both UT and UK to be in the mix for Freeman, as he is currently attending school in Harrogate, TN, near the Kentucky border. The Vols should be well in the mix to land him.