Miles Rubin’s knowledge of Tennessee basketball was limited to the handful of games he had watched including the Vols’ NCAA Tournament wins over Virginia and Iowa State. But Rubin has connections to people inside the Tennessee program dating back to middle school.
Those connections and what he saw in those NCAA Tournament wins led Rubin to Tennessee with the 6-foot-10 transfer center committing to the Vols on Sunday afternoon shortly after his weekend visit to Knoxville.
“Everything was great from the campus, to the environment, to the arena,” Rubin told RTI before announcing his commitment. “I mean, everything just felt good. It felt like it was the right fit. Everybody just treated me like family. Like they wanted me to be there. And I feel like I could really do something here, win a championship here. I feel like that’s the goal with this team.”
The Loyola (Chicago) transfer center has two ties to this current iteration of Tennessee basketball. A Chicago native, Rubin played on the same AAU team as Cal transfer commit Dai Dai Ames in middle school. Ames visited Tennessee this weekend with Rubin and committed on Saturday.
Tennessee assistant coach Amorrow Morgan also helped recruit Rubin while he was an assistant coach at Loyola (Chicago).
“I mean, it made it very comfortable,” Rubin said. “I wanted to go somewhere that I could just fit in. I didn’t have to reintroduce myself to a bunch of people. I already know a few people on the team. So, I mean, I feel like it’s good. A good fit.”
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What Rubin saw in Tennessee’s postseason wins and what the Vols showed him while watching tape during his visit sold him on his strong fit. The Vols are looking to replace senior center Felix Okpara who was an elite rim protecting center who could also defend on the perimeter.
The 6-foot-10, 220-pound center has blocked 237 shots over his first three collegiate seasons and ranked in the top 20 nationally in block rate each season.
“I feel like I can play like him (Okpara),” Rubin said. “I feel like I could be a defender, a great defender like him. I feel like if I really work on that, I can be a very great player like him.”
Offensively, Rubin does his damage around the rim. Rubin has totaled 148 dunks including 48 alley-oops over the course of his career. He is also a good passer for a big man, making him all the more effective as a pick-and-roll big who can facilitate off the short roll.
“One thing is for sure lobs,” Rubin said of his fit. “I mean, I feel like a lob is a key part of their offense. I mean, I feel like their offense, in general, just fits the way my play style works. Like passing, setting screens, run to the basket and making the right reads. I feel like with that, I feel like that will help me help this team win championships.”
Rubin is the third commit of Tennessee’s transfer class, joining Ames and Belmont sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade.
