Tennessee basketball is set for a revamped appearance as they embark on Rick Barnes’ 10th season as head coach. Following their Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament and securing the SEC regular-season title, the Vols saw seven players depart during the offseason. However, they retained six players and added four transfers along with a high school prospect.
With the influx of new faces, Tennessee has assigned fresh jersey numbers to their newcomers and even updated one player’s number going into his second season with the team.
The Vols disclosed their new jersey numbers on Wednesday, which will be on display at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center:
– Senior guard Jordan Gainey will wear No. 11 after appearing in 36 games and averaging 6.8 points in his debut season wearing No. 2.
– Graduate transfer guard Chaz Lanier, hailing from North Florida, will don No. 2. Lanier, ranked as the No. 11 transfer nationally and the third-best shooting guard, declared for the NBA Draft and signed with Tennessee over Kentucky and BYU.
– Graduate transfer guard Darlinstone Dubar, formerly of Hofstra, will sport No. 8. Dubar contributed significantly last season with Hofstra, averaging 18.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, earning him All-CAA Second Team honors.
– Junior center Felix Okpara, a transfer from Ohio State, will don No. 34. Okpara, standing at 6-foot-11, led Ohio State in rebounding and blocked shots last season.
– Senior forward Igor Milicic Jr., transferring from Charlotte, will wear No. 7. Milicic Jr. was a standout in the AAC, averaging 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season, earning All-AAC Third Team honors.
– Freshman guard Bishop Boswell, a highly touted recruit from Myers Park High School in Charlotte, NC, will don No. 3. Boswell, a unanimous four-star recruit, showcased his skills on the AAU circuit with Team CP3.
These new numbers mark the beginning of an exciting chapter for Tennessee basketball as they gear up for the upcoming season.
