Kennesaw State transfer power forward Braedan Lue committed to Tennessee basketball on Friday following a midweek official visit.
“Everything here is what I need to get better and reach my goals,” Lue told RTI of his decision. “Body wise, player development wise— this is just where I need to be.”
Lue is coming off a sophomore season at Kennesaw State where he averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 assists per game. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward scored in double-figures 19 times last season and scored 20-plus points three separate times.
Tennessee is looking to add more rebounding and rim protection to its roster for next season and Lue provides that. He posted an 8.2 offensive rebound rate, a 12.2 defensive rebound rate and a 5.8 block rate. The offensive rebound rate ranked 424th nationally and the block rate ranked a 133rd nationally.
More From RTI: What Rick Barnes Said About Tennessee Signing Notre Dame Forward Jalen Haralson
Lue has started 66 of 68 games in his first two seasons at Kennesaw State while helping lead the Owls to the NCAA Tournament and a first round loss against Gonzaga last season. Lue shot 45.2% from the field and 26.7% from three-point range while making 23 triples over the course of the season.
On Tennessee’s roster, Lue joins DeWayne Brown and Miles Rubin as true big men. Jalen Haralson and Chris Washington Jr are also capable of playing the stretch-four spot.
Lue is an unranked transfer according to 247sports. On3 ranks Lue as a three-star and the No. 227 player in the transfer portal while EvanMiya ranks him as a four-star and the No. 401 player in the transfer portal.
The Atlanta native is the sixth player to commit to Tennessee out the transfer portal to date joining Cal combo guard Dai Dai Ames, VCU combo guard Terrance Hill Jr, Belmont sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade, Notre Dame wing Jalen Haralson and Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin.
The Vols lost six players in the transfer portal this cycle including Clarence Massamba, Bishop Boswell, Amari Evans, Cade Phillips, Jaylen Carey and J.P. Estrella.
Brown and Troy Henderson are Tennessee’s only returning players at the time of publication. The Vols are also awaiting the draft decision of Nate Ament.
