Tennessee went out and found itself an elite transfer portal guard with the signing of VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr. at the beginning of the week. Rick Barnes and his staff had already put together a strong group of additions with the likes of Miles Rubin, Dai Dai Ames, Jalen Haralson, and Tyler Lundblade, but Hill’s signing put Tennessee’s class on the next level.
During his breakout season with the Rams last year, Hill averaged 15.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He shot the ball 46.6% from the floor and 37% from three-point range, while also working the charity stripe at 84.4%.
Hill has been praised for his high-level scoring ability, his versatile scoring prowess, and low turnover numbers. Barnes himself touted Hill’s ability to “put the ball in the basket from all three levels” in a statement after the signing on Monday.
And while Hill acknowledges his own scoring game, he also looks at himself as a pass-first point guard who wants to get his teammates involved as much as possible.
“Just having the ball, being the primary ball handler that’s going to distribute and make a lot of offense for a team,” Hill detailed about his own game during Sunday’s episode of The RTI Low-Down. “I really think I’m a pass-first point guard, but a lot of people see me scoring at will. I think now, with this roster that I’ve signed to, I’ll be able to show my playmaking side way more.”
More From RTI: Tennessee Signee Terrence Hill Makes Pitch For Juke Harris to Join Him on Rocky Top
Hill’s assist numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page in comparison to his scoring, but he’ll be surrounded by better talent at Tennessee than he had at VCU. Tyler Lundblade shot 41% from three-point range last year, while Dai Dai Ames is a 37% career three-point shooter. Hill believes that he and his new teammates will be able to work well together in the future.
“I think we complement each other very well,” Hill said about his new teammates. “That was one of the main reasons, looking at the roster coming to Tennessee, why I was very intrigued of coming here and very excited as well. The guys you know, Jalen Haralson, a great player. A great playmaker. Can really do a lot of things offensively and can provide us a lot of length on the defensive end. We’ve got Miles Rubin. I played against him, I’ve seen him play the last two years, obviously, he was in the A10 with me. Elite guy. I feel like I’m going to play really well with him. Kind of familiar with each other’s games, so it might be more easier to gel with a big and a point guard back there.
“Dai Dai Ames, he’s a killer, man. I love the way he plays. i think we can complement each other very well in the backcourt. Him playing off me, me playing off him. And also me just getting him easier shots.”
There’s no doubt that Hill is excited about Tennessee’s future with the new talent that it has acquired. He sees himself as someone who can be a leader, a playmaker, and a scorer from the point guard position.
“Me being that lead guy back there, kind of running the show and having everybody shine the most with they do best, I think we have a great thing coming forward,” Hill said.
Check out Terrence Hill Jr.’s full interview with The RTI Low-Down’s Bob Baskerville and Chris Low below:
