Where Tennessee Basketball Lands In Latest Way-Too-Early Rankings

It’s been just over a month since Tennessee basketball’s 2025-26 season ended with a loss against Michigan in the Elite Eight.

The Vols have completely overhauled their roster in the time since. After losing six players to the transfer portal, Tennessee has just two returning players from last season’s Elite Eight team: Troy Henderson and DeWayne Brown.

But Rick Barnes and has staff quickly went back to work building Tennessee’s roster since the conclusion of the season. The Vols have landed six transfers and one prep player to their roster over the last month to go along with the returning duo and the trio of prep prospects Tennessee signed in the fall.

In the transfer ranks, the Vols have landed VCU combo guard Terrence Hill Jr, Cal combo guard Dai Dai Ames, Belmont sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade, Notre Dame wing Jalen Haralson, Kennesaw State forward Braedan Lue and Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin.

In the prep ranks, Tennessee has added four-star forward Chris Washington Jr, four-star wing Ralph Scott, four-star guard Manny Green and three-star point guard Marquis Clark to their roster.

Tennessee is still in pursuit of star Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris and is also looking to add one more big man to its roster ahead of next season. But the Vols have landed an abundance of offensive firepower and have the makings of a team that could make a deep in March.

Over the last week, a number of media outlets have updated their way-too-early top 25 rankings. Here’s where Tennessee lands in the latest updates.

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ESPN (Jeff Borzello)

• National rank: No. 11
• SEC rank: 5

Jon Rothstein Power 45

• National rank: No. 17
• SEC rank: 4

CBS Sports (Gary Parrish)

• National rank: No. 17
• SEC rank: 4

On3

• National rank: No. 15
• SEC rank: 5

Hoops HQ (Seth Davis)

• National rank: No. 8
• SEC rank: 2