Tennessee basketball gets its final tuneup before the start of the 2025-26 season Sunday night when they face Duke in an exhibition game at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Meeting with the media Friday afternoon, head coach Rick Barnes said that he was not certain who would start for Tennessee against the Blue Devils. Tennessee released its game notes with it projected starters for the exhibition matchup. Those starters could end up changing but this is the tentative plan.
Here’s a look at Tennessee’s projected starters for the matchup.
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Point Guard
Ja’Kobi Gillespie
A no doubt starter, Gillespie could very well be Tennessee’s best player this season after transferring in from Maryland this offseason.
Gillespie was a Third Team All-Big 10 selection a season ago, averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game for Maryland. Gillespie is a fantastic three-point shooter. He made 87 triples last season for the Terrapins at a 40.7% clip.
Shooting Guard
Bishop Boswell
Shooting guard is the biggest question mark on Tennessee’s roster entering the season. I have viewed Louisiana Tech transfer Amaree Abram and Israeli prospect Ethan Burg as the top two contenders to start but Boswell is getting the nod against Duke.
The lone returner from last year’s team in the back court, Boswell averaged 0.3 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.5 points in 3.8 minutes in the 28 games he played in. Boswell is a strong defender which helped earn him the nod.
Small Forward
Nate Ament
The highest rated signee in Tennessee basketball history, Ament ranked as a five-star recruit and the No. 4 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. A massive add in the spring, Ament chose Tennessee over Kentucky, Duke, Arkansas and Louisville.
Ament is one of the biggest x-factors on Tennessee’s team. A projected lottery pick, Ament has an incredibly bright basketball future. How close can he get to his potential this season? That’s the big question for Ament.
Sunday night will be a fun test facing off against Duke’s Cameron Boozer, who was one of the three recruits ranked higher than him in the 2025 cycle.
Power Forward
Jaylen Carey
Carey transferred across the state from Vanderbilt to Tennessee earlier this offseason after averaging eight points and 5.7 rebounds for the Commodores as a sophomore. A stout rebounder and screener, Carey can do all the nitty, gritty work.
The Vols are deep in the front court with Felix Okpara, JP Estrella, Carey, Cade Phillips and freshman DeWayne Brown all expected to play major minutes in this game.
Center
Felix Okpara
Tennessee’s lone returning starter, Okpara is the anchor of a Vol defense that’s looking to uphold the program’s high standards despite losing Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack.
Okpara averaged 7.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game last season as a junior. He’s stepped up as a leader this offseason on a largely new look team. Tennessee is looking for another gear on the court as well.
