The five guards that made up Tennessee basketball's nine-player transfer class grabbed national attention. But coach Rick Barnes also found some complimentary pieces in the frontcourt that will be critical to improving upon last season’s third consecutive Elite Eight run.
Since scholarship limits were eliminated, the best teams college basketball are making use of extra roster spots by adding more talent further down their benches. Flashy transfer additions Juke Harris, Terrence Hill Jr., Jalen Haralson and others will be centerpieces, the Vols' supporting cast will be critical to making another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Here are three new Vols flying under the radar that could make major contributions during the 2026-27 season.
How Christian Fermin’s health impacts Tennessee’s defense
Fermin played
just four games for VCU last season, but blocked five shots in 28 combined minutes against Utah State and NC State, two teams who made the NCAA Tournament, before leaving the program due to a personal matter.
It was only a sample of what he is capable of across a larger sample size. The 6-foot-10 Fermin posted a block rate of 7.9% during his sophomore and junior seasons with the Rams, according to Barttorvik. He’s also averaged a 10.4% offensive rebounding rate across four seasons of college basketball and led the Atlantic 10 with a 13.3% offensive rebounding rate in league play during the 2024-25 season.
Struggles with turnovers and consistent defensive rebounding will keep Fermin in a reserve role behindJalen Washington, a late addition from the transfer portal. But Washington committed three or more fouls in half of his 36 appearances last season, and four or more in 12 games.
The Vols would certainly prefer for Washington, an excellent defender in his own right, to play 30 minutes or more per game. But his track record suggests foul trouble could be an issue, especially in SEC play, so there will likely be plenty of available minutes for a forward that can protect the rim.
But Fermin first has to get back on the floor − he’s been sidelined by a hand injury since mid-June − before he can be a defensive option for Barnes off the bench.
How four-star recruit Manny Green's athleticism translates to SEC
Even though he was considered a top-100 recruit by 247Sports coming out of Cedar Grove High School in Georgia, Manny Green was far from the highest-rated member of the Vols' latest recruiting class. But he could be the most immediately impactful freshman.
It’s easy to see Green as a tweener – too small to play power forward full time and not quite skilled enough yet to play shooting guard. But at 6-7 and 210 pounds, he’s got a frame that’s ready for the SEC immediately and athleticism that should allow him to scale up defensively, guarding bigger players to neutralize matchup problems.
On the offensive end, Green is smart enough to play off more ball-dominant players. He's a quality screener who understands spacing, Tennessee's offensive system and where he fits in it. He also plays with a high motor that should endear himself to the coaching staff quickly.
It wouldn’t even take an elite 3-point shot, just one dangerous enough that opponents have to respect it, for Green to earn a role off the bench.
Tennessee needs Braedan Lue’s physicality, experience for postseason
Kennesaw State transfer Braedan Lue was an above average shot-blocker and earned an All-Conference USA defensive team nod last season. Transitioning to the SEC will make it difficult for him to maintain his 1.4 blocks per game average from 2025-26 again this season, but Lue’s 6-9, 235-pound frame and veteran-like physicality should allow him to maintain quality rebounding skills.
The biggest question is whether Lue is mobile enough to guard wings. If he can slide his feet to stick with opponents on the perimeter, his low turnover rate and rebounding would make him serviceable enough on offense, even with a lack of elite shooting skills, to not get played off the floor.
With offense-first guards headlining the transfer class, defense-first role players like Lue will be necessary to surviving SEC play and making a run through the NCAA Tournament.
Lue already has experienced March Madness after winning the Conference USA title with Kennesaw State. And he’ll have two additional years of eligibility remaining.
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Three underrated Tennessee basketball newcomers who will make an impact
