Combo guard Troy Henderson will return to Tennessee for his sophomore season. The 6-foot-1 guard announced his plan to return just one day after announcing his intentions to enter the transfer portal. However, Henderson never officially entered the portal and will return to Tennessee for his sophomore season.
“After spending additional time speaking with my family, thinking further about my future and having a great conversation with Coach Barnes and the staff, I’ve realized there is no place I’d rather be than right here on Rocky Top,” Henderson wrote.
“Vol nation, I’m coming back! I can’t wait to take the floor again in front of the best fans in the country. I’m so excited for all the big things still to come here at Tennessee!”
Henderson played in 28 games during his freshman season at Tennessee, averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 assists in seven minutes per game. The combo guard proved to be a solid three-pointer, making 15 triples at a 34% clip over the course of the season. He made just a pair of two-pointers during the season.
The 6-foot-1 guard competed with Ethan Burg for Tennessee’s backup point guard spot behind Ja’Kobi Gillespie. At points throughout the season, Henderson was the Vols’ backup point guard. However, Burg ended up winning that job down the course of the season with Henderson playing just four minutes in Tennessee’s final five games played.
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Henderson suffered a left shoulder injury and played through it the back half of his freshman. Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said that Henderson would have to undergo shoulder surgery this offseason.
The best moment of Henderson’s freshman season came early in SEC play when he scored eight points and hit two crucial late game three-pointers in Tennessee’s 87-82 double overtime win against Texas A&M at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Henderson was a late addition to Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting class. He originally signed with Fordham but requested a release from his NLI after the Rams fired head coach Keith Urgo. Tennessee brought in Henderson for a visit between the 2025 Round of 32 and Sweet 16 and he committed to Barnes and his staff after the thought.
He joins DeWayne Brown as the only Tennessee players to announce its intentions to return for next season. Six players have announced plans to transfer while Ethan Burg has yet to announce anything about his intentions for next season.
The Vols currently have seven scholarships to work with ahead of next season. If Nate Ament declares for the NBA Draft then Tennessee will have eight scholarships to work with.
