Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes met with the local media Tuesday as the Vols continue their summer practices and get ready for their trip to Italy early next month.
It’s a new Tennessee team with an abundance of new faces. The Vols added three college transfers this offseason and three prep players in addition to Freddie Dilione. Dilione early enrolled at Tennessee in January while redshirting the remainder of the season.
Both Harvard transfer Chris Ledlum (undisclosed) and freshman forward Cade Phillips (shoulder) are currently sidelined with injuries but the rest of Tennessee’s newcomers are full go.
Here’s what Barnes has learned about the newcomers — plus Dilione — this summer.
More From RTI: Tobe Awaka’s Summer Abroad Brings Him New Confidence
On Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht
“A gym rat. He is in the gym. I think he’s been in the gym every day he’s been here. It’s all new to him, obviously. What we do and how we do it, it’s new to anybody who comes in here for the first time. But he’s a versatile player. Offensively is skilled and can do a lot of different things. Obviously defensively will be the biggest thing— he’ll have to learn our system and what we need there but he’s working at it every day and anybody that has the passion that he has will figure it out quick. Obviously we expect big things from him.”
On what center JP Estrella could give the Vols in his freshman season
“In some ways I might tell you that JP has been one of the biggest surprises in terms of his competitive spirit. He’s starting to get, he and Jonas (Aidoo) went at it early a little bit and Chris (Ledlum) before his injury. Then with Tobe (Awaka) getting back, it’s a whole different ballgame for him, which is going to help him. But in terms of his work ethic, we knew he had the character. I’ve said many times that you don’t know about a competitive spirit or a work ethic until you’re really with somebody. He has both of those and he has a bright future. He can do a lot of different things. Just a matter of getting consistent. And like any young guy coming in, (he’s) adjusting to the physicality, to the grind of what he has to go through. Because I’m sure he would tell you if he were standing here this is one of the hardest things he’s gone through to this point. But he’s handled everything extremely well.”
On the benefits of Freddie Dilione being able to enroll early and sit out as a redshirt the second half of last season
“I think the beneficial part was the time he got to spend with (strength coach) Garrett (Medenwald). Just the fact that his body has changed so much since the time that he got here. Once he came, he did spend a lot of time on the scout team and not a lot of attention was given to him in terms of what we do as much, with him working with the scout team. I think the experience he had with Team USA was good for him. But his body has definitely changed. He’s a guy that has got tremendous ability and can do a lot of things. We’re excited about him.”
On freshman Cameron Carr arriving in July, what he brings
“I was with him for the first time, really, I think yesterday was the second real practice. We’ve all, as a staff, been impressed with his basketball IQ. He’s picked up stuff quickly. He’s long, athletic. Very long. Shoots the ball well, obviously. For a guy that just jumped right in, you’ve got to give him some props. He hasn’t flinched. He just walked in and, again, he’s picked up a lot of things quickly, which isn’t always easy to do.”
On Harvard transfer Chris Ledlum and USC Upstate transfer Jordan Gainey
“Both of them understand how to play. Both of them have the ability to create their own shots. They both understand the game. They both, again, highly competitive. Highly competitive and have added to us and both of them are still learning the system. In terms of what they’ve shown us from their work ethic, their attitude, their willingness to come right in and blend in with our team and program has been great. Both of those guys are going to add a lot to us.”
