The Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Rick Barnes are attempting to dramatically strengthen their squad for the following season. They have already secured some of the most prominent names in the transfer market, owing largely to the university’s rise in NIL funding.
“Tennessee basketball is on pace to be among the top schools in NIL spending next season. ” On Thursday, On3’s Pete Nakos revealed that the Vols are one of a few of schools expected to invest $10 million or more in NIL for their roster next season, according to VolQuest’s Grant Ramey.
Tennessee is still pursuing its top portal prospect, Juke Harris, who would be the biggest addition of Barnes’ portal era. The Vols are going all-in this season, and Harris to Tennessee seems like a good match.
“He knows Tennessee better than any of the other schools, because he explored Tennessee coming out of high school. North Carolina, of course, has a new coach. So I believe he is most at ease, or has the most knowledge of Tennessee. That does not mean they understand him, so we’ll see what happens,” VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs said Tuesday on WNML’s SportsTalk.
Landing one of the top players in the portal will not be simple, though. The Michigan Wolverines and head coach Dusty May are still in the running for Harris.
“They (Michigan) are very much in the hunt for Juke Harris,” according to 247 Sports’ Travis Branham. “That one is progressing quite quickly. As of this morning, it appears that he will choose between Michigan and Tennessee. Both have already paid him visits at this point, so it will be a battle to the finish. “
Tennessee now holds a narrow advantage, but Michigan’s continued push keeps the game tight. Harris is also taking his time throughout the process, assessing his possibilities, including the NBA Draft.
The longer the recruiting lasts, the more opportunities Michigan has to present its case. Barnes and his crew are prioritizing Harris and will do everything possible to bring him to Rocky Top.
