Tennessee Opens Practice With 13 New Players as 2026-27 Season Nears
The short version
- Tennessee opened practice Sept. 22 at Pratt Pavilion with 13 new players on the roster.
- Vanderbilt transfer Jalen Washington is suing the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility; his status is uncertain.
- Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson has struggled with turnovers and is still developing defensively.
- Guards Terrence Hill Jr. and Dai Dai Ames are expected to fill playmaking roles.
- Coach Rick Barnes is exploring a faster tempo, using drills with a 10-second shot clock.
Rick Barnes' Volunteers held their first official workout Sept. 22 at Pratt Pavilion, with Vanderbilt transfer Jalen Washington among the new arrivals.
Tennessee men's basketball opened preseason practice for the 2026-27 campaign on Sept. 22 at Pratt Pavilion, kicking off preparations for a roster featuring 13 newcomers. Coach Rick Barnes rebuilt much of the team through the transfer portal during the offseason, and the opening workout offered an early look at how the pieces might fit.
Jalen Washington, a 6-foot-10 center who arrived from Vanderbilt, did not begin working out with the Volunteers until early August and appears to still be rounding into form. Barnes praised his knowledge and attitude, and the big man has shown moments of the rebounding and interior defense he displayed last season, though he still must absorb the system and rebuild his conditioning. Washington is also suing the NCAA seeking an additional year of eligibility, and Barnes acknowledged uncertainty about the outcome. If Washington is cleared, he projects as the starter; otherwise, minutes behind him could go to DeWayne Brown II, Myles Rubin or Christian Fermin.
Another high-profile addition, Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson, averaged 16.2 points per game last season but has battled turnovers in practice, and the defensive ability Barnes envisions has yet to surface. Barnes said Haralson has the length, athleticism and strength to rank among the country's top defenders but is still learning how to apply them.
In the backcourt, Terrence Hill Jr., who averaged 15 points at VCU, and Dai Dai Ames, who led Cal at 16.9 points per game, are expected to serve primarily as creators rather than scorers. Tennessee is also weighing a faster tempo, using drills with the shot clock trimmed to 10 seconds. Barnes noted the team has rarely ranked high in tempo under his tenure and said the group still has work to do to execute the style properly.
