Rick Barnes and Tennessee Basketball made a massive splash in the transfer portal on Monday with a commitment from elite transfer portal forward Juke Harris. Tennessee already had a stacked portal class, but the addition of the former Wake Forest standout cements the Vols in the conversation for one of the top incoming groups in the country.
The 6-foot-7, 200-pound player started in all 35 games that he played in with the Demon Deacons last season. He played 35.2 minutes per game, averaging 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in each contest. Some of his most explosive showings came when he scored 31 against Cal, 38 against Boston College, 31 against NC State, and 29 against Morehead State. He also dropped 28 points on three different occasions last season.
Harris is a difference-maker on the court. It’s why 247Sports has Harris ranked as the No. 8 player and No. 2 SF in the portal, while ESPN has him as the sixth-ranked transfer player.
“The bottom line is that Harris turned himself into an NBA prospect as a sophomore,” 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein wrote about Harris in an April evaluation. “He’s not likely to get the same volume, or consequently counting stats, at his next spot, but ideally the efficiency and defensive impact will grow in a somewhat more confined role.”
Check out some of Juke Harris’ impressive highlights below:
More From RTI: Highly Touted Wake Forest Transfer Juke Harris Commits To Tennessee Basketball
Harris is the seventh transfer portal addition that Tennessee has snagged this offseason, and the highest-ranked player in the group. He joins VCU PG Terrence Hill Jr., Cal PG Dai Dai Ames, Notre Dame CG Jalen Haralson, Belmont SG Tyler Lundblade, Loyola-Chicago PF Miles Rubin, and Kennesaw State SF Braedan Lue.
With the addition of Harris, Tennessee now has six players in 247Sports’ Top 100 rankings: Harris (No. 8), Hill (No. 19), Haralson (No. 25), Ames (No. 53), Lundblade (No. 59), and Rubin (No. 95).
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Basketball recruiting coverage.
