Tennessee basketball landed its second commitment in the transfer portal Saturday afternoon as Cal guard Dai Dai Ames committed to the Vols while wrapping up his official visit. Ames was a quick target for Tennessee and the Vols locked things down before he could go on his other visits.
Ames spent the first three yeas of his career at Kansas State, Virginia and finally Cal. He is coming off a strong junior season with the Golden Bears where he averaged 16.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and two steals per game.
What is Tennessee getting in Ames and how will they use him? Taking a look here.
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What Are Ames’ Strengths?
Ames biggest strength is his ability to score the basketball at all three levels. He shot 46% from the field during his junior season with a solid ability to finish at the basket.
The Chicago native made 56 three-pointers last season at a 37% clip and has shot 37% from deep over the course of his career. Ames does not shoot enough three-pointers to be considered a lethal shooter but he is a good one.
The 6-foot-2 guard also has a really good midrange game which should mix well with Rick Barnes’ offensive system. His 0.96 PPP on midrange jump shots ranked in the 91st percentile nationally last season.
Ames is a true combo guard who is capable of playing point guard or shooting guard. He does not have great career assist numbers but also does not turn the ball over much. His ability to handle the basketball and create his own shot is a true plus.
How Will Tennessee Use Ames?
Some of this will depend on how Tennessee fills out its roster around Ames and how much he is handling the basketball or playing off the ball.
When Ames is playing off the ball, the Vols will likely run him off screens to try and get him open shots. He will likely curl off a lot of those pin down screens to get open midrange jumpers the way Jordan Gainey did two seasons ago.
Tennessee could also use Ames as a pick-and-roll ball handler. He’s a better iso scorer than pick-and-roll scorer but also largely makes good decisions out of it and gets his teammates good shots. Ames is a solid catch-and-shoot scorer but does more of his damage off the bounce.
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Questions About Ames Game
It starts on the defensive end where Ames was just a slightly above average defender last season. He is not very disruptive on the ball and does not have the length to bother shooters. Barnes has done a great job of improving offense-first transfers defensive abilities. How much Ames can grow is a big question.
What Tennessee ends up doing at point guard will be a big part of this. If the Vols fail to land a true point guard and Ames has to handle the ball a lot, that will be a big question. Being the primary ball handler on a team is not something he has had to do a lot.
Tennessee’s offensive system includes a ton of off-ball movement. Ames has been most effective with the ball in his hands. How he performs if he is playing off the ball in Tennessee’s offense will be an interesting development.
What Does Ames’ Commitment Mean For Tennessee Basketball
Ames joins Lundblade as Tennessee’s portal pickups to date. The duo each give the Vols high level shooters and perimeter scorers.
The Vols need to add one more starting caliber guard and at least a few more bench guards to help fill out their roster.
