Tennessee Basketball Climbs ESPN’s 2026 Rankings After Transfer Portal Success

ESPN has refreshed its 2025-26 men’s college basketball rankings following the closure of the transfer portal.

As players can no longer join the portal while retaining eligibility for the upcoming season, team rosters are becoming more established and easier to evaluate.

Tennessee is still exploring options in the portal to enhance its squad, especially targeting shooting guards, but has already acquired two transfers and a five-star freshman since the portal’s opening.

Here’s Tennessee’s updated ranking according to ESPN.

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Following the NCAA tournament, the Vols were initially ranked 21st. They later dropped to 23rd in ESPN’s ‘Way-Too-Early’ rankings.

Currently, the Vols have achieved their highest standing yet, ranked at No. 16 by ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, positioning them as a potential 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

This represents the fourth-highest ranking among SEC teams, with the Vols trailing behind No. 9 Arkansas, No. 10 Kentucky, and No. 15 Auburn.

This off-season, Tennessee added Ja’Kobi Gillespie, a point guard from Maryland, and Jaylen Carey, a forward from Vanderbilt. They also secured five-star forward Nate Ament, who is ranked as the No. 4 player in his class.

Borzello commented, “Tennessee has been active in revitalizing its roster recently, bringing in impactful recruits like top-five talent Nate Ament and Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie. Ament possesses tremendous long-term potential, while Gillespie stood out as one of the best point guards in college basketball last season.”

No scholarship players from the 2024-25 roster have entered the transfer portal; only walk-on Ben Linnemeyer is expected to depart.

However, Tennessee will face significant losses as four starters are leaving due to the completion of their eligibility: Zakai Zeigler, a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year; Chaz Lanier, the Jerry West Award winner; SEC All-Defensive member Jahmai Mashack; and Igor Milicic Jr.

Additionally, they will need to replace key bench players such as six-man Jordan Gainey and depth contributor Darlinstone Dubar. Walk-on Grant Hurst also participated in senior day celebrations, although he still has eligibility left.

Tennessee will retain one starter from last year’s Elite Eight run: center Felix Okpara, who is set to enter his senior year after his first season with the Vols.

Returning off the bench are Cade Phillips, who contributed as a reserve forward, and J.P. Estrella, also a forward expected to receive a medical redshirt due to injuries that limited his sophomore season.

Guard Bishop Boswell is anticipated to return after limited playing time as a true freshman.

Tennessee has officially signed four freshmen this season, with the standout being five-star Nate Ament, the No. 4 ranked player who is likely to start and may lead the team’s scoring efforts.

Elite defender Amari Evans is joining as a four-star recruit. Also joining is three-star forward DeWayne Brown II from Hoover, Alabama, alongside unranked point guard Troy Henderson.