Tennessee basketball freshman guard B.J. Edwards entered the transfer portal on Friday, On3’s Jamie Shaw first reported.
Tennessee guard BJ Edwards has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @JamieShaw5.
He was a 4-star recruit in the class of 2022. https://t.co/J8xzY7JGNX pic.twitter.com/BOZFC4Vjq1
— On3 (@On3sports) May 5, 2023
Edwards had a limited role for Tennessee as a freshman averaging 4.3 minutes in the 14 games he played in. In the 14 games he played in, Edwards averaged 1.2 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.
The Knoxville native scored a season-high five points in the Vols’ season opening win over Tennessee Tech before twice scoring four points (McNeese State and Missouri).
Edwards began earning limited opportunities late in SEC play but did not break onto the scene even after fellow point guard Zakai Zeigler suffered a season ending knee injury.
Despite not having a massive role as a freshman, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes expressed excitement about what the former Knoxville Catholic standout could do in the Vols’ program.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in B.J.,” Barnes said at the Knoxville stop of the Big Orange Caravan. “He’s working really really hard and he knows he’s going to need to become a better shooter. He’s putting the time in, he’s putting the work in, he’s putting the concentration in to do the things he needs to do to develop that part of his game along with the other things he needs to develop.”
A former four-star recruit, Edwards is the second Tennessee player to enter the transfer portal this offseason joining veteran forward Olivier Nkamhoua. Nkamhoua could end up playing professionally overseas instead of at another school next season.
Edwards transferring provides more clarity to Tennessee’s scholarship crunch. The Vols added three transfers this offseason and Santiago Vescovi announced he would return for his super senior season.
Even without Josiah-Jordan James, Uros Plavsic and Julian Phillips (who have declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining college eligibility), the Vols are full with 13 players on scholarship for the 2023-24 season, and their roster now seems set.
If Tennessee wants to add another player from the transfer portal or a prep prospect, another current player will likely have to enter the transfer portal.
