Latest news with #Ja'KobiGillespie
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennessee Basketball Lands International Star In Major Recruiting Win
The Tennessee Volunteers had a very solid 2024-25 season that saw them earn the second seed in the Midwest Region and make it all the way to the Elite Eight round of the men's NCAA Tournament. But once they got there, they fell to the surprising Houston Cougars in a 69-50 loss. Advertisement They landed an impact player from the transfer portal in Ja'Kobi Gillespie, a guard who averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 assists while shooting 40.7% from the field last season for the Maryland Terrapins. On Wednesday, they also secured a commitment from Clarence Massamba, a 6-foot-5 guard from France. Massamba is currently playing for AS Monaco Basket's under-21 team. He's averaging 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.2 minutes per game, and he's shooting 45.9% overall from the field. He had previously spent two seasons at The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla. A number of prominent basketball programs, including Duke and Kansas, had shown interest in him before he decided to head to Tennessee. Advertisement In 10 seasons as the Volunteers' head coach, Rick Barnes has gotten them to the NCAA Tournament seven times, including in each of the last five seasons. They made it to the Elite Eight round in both of the last two campaigns. Mar 22, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn ImagesJordan Prather-Imagn Images Their men's basketball program has never made it past the Elite Eight. But the Lady Volunteers have won the national championship eight times thanks to notable players such as Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings, both of whom went on to become big WNBA stars. Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Reacts to Major NBA News
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ja'Kobi Gillespie enters transfer portal as Tennessee basketball target
Ja'Kobi Gillespie has entered the transfer portal Monday after an All-Big Ten season at Maryland. The rising senior point guard is a likely Tennessee basketball portal target as the Vols rebuild the roster heading toward coach Rick Barnes' 11th season. Advertisement Gillespie averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 assists for the Terrapins, who reached the Sweet 16. He shot 40.7% on 3-pointers and made 87 threes, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. Gillespie is a Greeneville, Tennessee, native. He played his first two seasons at Belmont before transferring to Maryland. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 12.9 points and 3.7 assists in two seasons at Belmont. He starred as a sophomore for the Bruins, breaking out to average 17.2 points and 4.2 assists. Tennessee has to fill its point guard spot after Zakai Zeigler graduated following a historic four-year career. Gillespie would likely step into the starting spot immediately and allow recent commitment Troy Henderson to develop. GILLESPIE: What are Tennessee basketball's transfer portal needs? Start with these three Advertisement The Vols have four returning scholarship players in guard Bishop Boswell and forwards J.P. Estrella, Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips. They have three incoming freshmen in four-star forward DeWayne Brown II, four-star guard Amari Evans and Henderson, a three-star. Tennessee has used the transfer portal as well as any team in college basketball the past two offseasons. Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier are among the biggest portal success stories in college basketball. Jordan Gainey, Igor Milicic Jr. and Okpara have been key players for Tennessee as well out of the portal. Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @ If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Ja'Kobi Gillespie: Tennessee basketball after Maryland transfer guard
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maryland losses in the portal continue in the weeks following Sweet 16
Maryland losses in the portal continue in the weeks following Sweet 16 Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, center, reacts after the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Florida, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) controls the ball against Florida forward Thomas Haugh (10) during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie takes control of the ball during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Florida, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) takes control of the ball from Florida guard Urban Klavzar, center, while Maryland center Derik Queen (25) defends during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) takes control of the ball from Florida guard Urban Klavzar, center, while Maryland center Derik Queen (25) defends during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, center, reacts after the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Florida, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) controls the ball against Florida forward Thomas Haugh (10) during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie takes control of the ball during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Florida, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) takes control of the ball from Florida guard Urban Klavzar, center, while Maryland center Derik Queen (25) defends during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) The Maryland exodus highlighted by coach Kevin Willard leaving his Sweet 16 program for Villanova has trickled down to the roster. Ja'Kobi Gillespie, a 6-foot-1 guard now headed to Tennessee, is the latest Terrapin to bolt the program in the transfer portal. Advertisement Derik Queen said over the weekend he would enter the NBA draft. The talented big man averaged 16.5 points this season, and his bank shot at the buzzer gave the Terrapins a one-point win over Colorado State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Maryland hired Buzz Williams to replace Willard, but the former Texas A&M coach is losing much of the Sweet 16 roster because of the portal. Williams has gained three transfer commitments since he was hired. Maryland recruit Chris Jeffrey and freshman Malachi Palmer are set to follow Willard to Villanova. Gillespie was a third-team All-Big Ten selection with Maryland in 2023-24 following two seasons at Belmont. Over his three-year college career, Gillespie averaged 13.6 points. Advertisement 'A dynamic point who can really shoot the ball from deep and get his teammates involved, Ja'Kobi is a fearless competitor with a high basketball IQ," of Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. "We expect him to help lead our team from day one and we feel quite fortunate to have him as a part of our program.' Former Toledo forward Javan Simmons announced on X that he plans to transfer to Ohio, another Mid-American Conference school. The 6-foot-7 Simmons was the MAC Freshman of the Year for the 2023-24 season, averaging 12.2 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Rockets. He averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 boards in 33 games this year. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vols land Vanderbilt transfer Jaylen Carey
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Tennessee basketball continues to build its roster for next season. After picking up Maryland transfer Ja'Kobi Gillespie, the Vols have landed Jaylen Carey from right in their backyard. Carey, who spent last season at Vanderbilt, helped the Commodores reach the NCAA Tournament as he averaged eight points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 2024. The 6-foot-8 center had two of his best performances against the Vols last season. He recorded a double-double against Tennessee in their first meeting in Nashville with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Carey then poured in 17 points and added seven boards for the Commodores in their loss at Food City Center. Carey joins a front court with Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips and JP Estrella, who is set to return after missing last season with an injury. He will be a junior next year with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Ex-Maryland PG Ja'Kobi Gillespie going home to Tennessee
Former Maryland point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie announced Friday that he is joining the Tennessee program. That marks a homecoming for Gillespie, who is a native of Greenville, Tenn., located about 70 miles east of the Tennessee campus in Knoxville. Gillespie's announcements on social media included "I'M COMING HOME" with a photo of himself wearing a Volunteers uniform. Tennessee, which reached the Elite Eight each of the last two years, had a need for a transfer point guard to replace the graduating Zakai Zeigler, the school's all-time leader with 747 career assists. Gillespie also considered Villanova -- the school that just hired Kevin Willard away from Maryland. He entered the transfer portal on Monday. "I just feel like it was a no-brainer for me," Gillespie told Rocky Top Insider. "For just being in this situation, I wasn't even thinking I'd be leaving in a month, then my coach leaves and, boom, Tennessee is in the picture. "Once I thought about it -- I thought about Villanova and Tennessee. I was just thinking about it and Tennessee, every time I thought about it I got excited and was just ready to go. It was kind of easy for me to decide." Gillespie averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 36 games this season for a Maryland squad that reached the Sweet 16. He knocked down 87 3-pointers and racked up 69 steals. Gillespie spent his first two seasons at Belmont, located in Nashville, before transferring to Maryland. In three college seasons, Gillespie has averages of 13.6 points, 4.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 93 games (68 starts). He has 173 steals and 151 3-point baskets. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
