Belmont transfer sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade officially signed with Tennessee basketball Thursday afternoon a day after committing to the Vols as a graduate transfer.
Veteran head coach Rick Barnes said after Tennessee’s Elite Eight loss against Michigan that they needed to add more shooting this offseason. The Vols’ first addition of the transfer portal gives them just that.
“We are thrilled to start our portal class with Tyler, who is both an exceptional player and an impressive young man,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said in a statement. “There is no doubt Tyler is one of the very best shooters at the college level and he proved that in one of the nation’s premier conferences. He can score in a variety of ways, whether that is a catch-and-shoot, dribble-handoff or off-the-dribble situation. Tyler has consistently been a part of winning teams and he brings a great deal of experience, as well as a tireless work ethic, with him to Rocky Top.”
Lundblade is coming off a standout season at Belmont, averaging 15.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game on his way to earning MVC Player of the Year honors. One of the top shooters in the country, Lundblade made 112 three-pointers at a 40.9% clip last season. Lundblade made the seventh most triples nationally last season.
During the 2024-25 season, Lundblade averaged 12.4 points per game but still made 100 three pointers at a 47.2% clip.
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The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter is not a strong finisher at the basket and takes the vast majority of his shots from beyond the three-point line. He can do just enough off the bounce to keep opponents on their toes, making 17-of-33 mid range attempts, 12-of-16 rim attempts and 6-of-17 non-rim paint attempts last season.
Lundblade also has one of the best stories in college basketball. He began his career by walking on at SMU before transferring to TCU after a coaching change at SMU. Lundblade originally walked on at TCU before earning a scholarship and having that scholarship taken away.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard then walked on at Belmont, hitting 100 three-pointers in his first season with the Bruins, earning a scholarship and going on to earn MVC Player of the Year honors a season ago.
Lundblade is Tennessee’s first commitment and the transfer portal and will not be the last. The transfer portal will hit hyperdrive for Tennessee and the rest of the country when it officially opens next Tuesday, April 7.
No Tennessee players have announced intentions to enter the transfer portal at this point in time though the Vols will likely lose at least a couple players.
