Kennesaw State transfer forward Braedan Lue committed to Tennessee basketball on Friday afternoon just a day after wrapping up an official visit with the Vols. Lue chose the Vols over UAB and Memphis.
Why was Tennessee the right spot for Lue?
“Everything here is what I need to get better and reach my goals,” Lue told RTI on Thursday. “Body wise, player development wise— this is just where I need to be.”
A 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward, Lue was a CUSA All-Defensive Team selection a season ago after blocking 52 shots and totaling 32 steals. Tennessee likes his defensive versatility and his ability to guard multiple positions while also having the length to block shots around the rim.
Lue brings Tennessee’s transfer class a defensive element that it has lacked as Rick Barnes and his staff have targeted offense this offseason. However, the Vols do not want to compromise their defensive principles and toughness. They envision Lue helping with that.
“I take a lot of pride in it (defense),” Lue said. “It just comes with playing hard. That’s exactly what Coach Barnes wants. So I don’t have any choice but to give it to him.”
More From RTI: Kennesaw State Forward Braedan Lue Commits To Tennessee Basketball
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. He scored in double-figures 19 times last season and scored 20-plus points three separate times.
Tennessee showed Lue how they have used past forwards and big men in its system believing Lue can provide the playmaking out of the short role as well as some perimeter shooting.
“How I use my athleticism and how I am versatile,” Lue said of what Barnes showed him in his film session. “So the way he plans on developing me, he was showing me film of the past forwards and bigs and he compared it to my film. The pick-and-roll and hitting me in the short roll and stuff like that. I just feel like I can thrive in that.”
Lue is the six transfer to commit to Tennessee this offseason joining VCU combo guard Terrence Hill Jr, Cal combo guard Dai Dai Ames, Belmont guard Tyler Lundblade, Notre Dame wing Jalen Haralson and Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin.
Lue joins a front court that boasts Rubin and DeWayne Brown. Haralson and four-star prep signee Chris Washington Jr are also capable of playing the four-spot.
