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Tennessee Basketball: 3 reasons why you should be hype about this year

By Colton Pickard

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: Lamonte Turner #1 and Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers react after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 83-77 in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: Lamonte Turner #1 and Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers react after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 83-77 in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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1. Josiah-Jordan James

MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: Josiah-Jordan James is introduced during the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019, in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for Powerade)
MARIETTA, GA – MARCH 25: Josiah-Jordan James is introduced during the 2019 Powerade Jam Fest on March 25, 2019, in Marietta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for Powerade) /

If there’s any reason to be excited about this year’s basketball team, it’s incoming freshman Josiah-Jordan James. He’s a five-star recruit from Charleston, South Carolina, and he’s one of the best point guards in the country.

James is a combo guard and can play multiple positions, which is exactly what the Vols will need out of him this year. Flexibility will be critical to the Vols’ success, so if everyone can be as flexible as James this season, then I think the Vols will have a really good year.

He’s the 22nd ranked player in the country, fourth-best point guard, and the number one rated player out of South Carolina.

He’s projected to be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft, so keeping him after this year is unlikely, but if Barnes can convince him to stay, then he will likely find himself on this list again next year and could be one of the best players in the country.

247Sports Director of Basketball Recruiting Evan Daniels has given his evaluation on James, and if James can reach his potential this season, then I don’t think any Vol fans will be complaining.

"“Josiah James is a strong, physical combo guard. He has a strong, chiseled frame with wide shoulders and good length,” Daniels said. “James is a good all-around athlete, although has just average speed. He’s a physical driver that looks to attack, but does so with his head up looking to create for others. James plays at a good pace and does a nice job of changing speeds. He is a fine finisher at the rim, and his strength comes into play here. The southpaw is comfortable pulling up for mid-range jump shots, but his long-range shot is the area he’ll need to improve the most. On defense, James can defend multiple positions and there’s significant upside on this end. To go with long-range shooting, other areas for growth include ball handling, valuing the ball more and shooting on the move. James projects as a potential late first-round draft pick, although there’s good upside here if he continues to develop.”"

247Sports has also rated James as the fifth highest-rated Tennessee recruit in Tennessee basketball history. Robert Hubbs, 2020 recruit Keon Johnson, Scotty Hopson, and Tobias Harris are the players ahead of James.

Barnes is also impressed with James’ progress throughout the offseason. He’s given positive quotes on James throughout the summer, including another one on Friday.

That’s one of many positive comments you can find on the wide web of VolTwitter regarding James. He has high expectations for this season, and I think he will fill them quite easily.

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