標籤: Juke

The Tennessee Volunteers have already produced one of the best classes of talent in the college basketball transfer portal this month with five commitments. Now it appears the class could be even stronger with the program still having guard Juke Harris in the mix.

According to Pete Nakos of On3.com, Tennessee remains in the final three to land Harris, but neither program has given a timeline for when a decision will be made. However, there are some factors that can improve a volunteer’s chances.

RELATED: Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

• Jukes Harris Stats (2025-26): 21.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.3 spg, 44.4% FG, 2.5 3s per game, 33.2% 3pts

Nakos said there would “probably be a cutoff date” for Harris’ pursuit in North Carolina and that if the decision was pushed forward he would step back to focus on other targets. According to NACOS sources, new coach Michael Malone wants more help on the wing, and given the reported cost of landing Harris, the Tar Heels will have to choose between him or NC State wings Paul McNeil or Matt Able.

North Carolina’s opting out in the near future could set up a potential bidding war between Michigan and Tennessee, which could prove fitting, as the two schools went head-to-head last year for a five-star running back. The newcomer has been a standout for the Wolverines this spring.

RELATED: Tennessee Volunteers willing to pay heavy price for Juke Harris

As for Tennessee basketball, Nakos reported that Harris’ family and Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes have “some familiarity” with each other. Not only did he originally recruit her out of high school and finish as a finalist, but Barnes also has a friendly relationship with Steve Forbes, Harris’ former coach at Wake Forest.

Tennessee must also consider another factor. Freshman forward Nate Ament has not yet decided whether he will officially enter the 2026 NBA Draft. He is a projected lottery pick, but returning to school could give him a chance to be selected even higher next year as the 2027 NBA Draft class is considered very weak. If the Volunteers can lure Ament to stay with a strong zero offer, it could force Harris out of their price range.

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That said, adding the reigning ACC Most Improved Player is a top priority for Tennessee after the program confirmed the commitment of guard Terrence Hill Jr. on Sunday. Harris will be the final addition to the Volunteers’ backcourt next season, giving them a wealth of scorers who can score from all three levels and impact the game in different ways.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the most active programs in the men’s college basketball transfer portal this offseason, going all out on Rick Barnes after three consecutive Elite Eight trips. This effort may soon be rewarded with another massive hike.

Pete Nakos of On3.com reported that there is “growing confidence” in Knoxville that Tennessee will be able to close things out with star guard Juke Harris and pry him away from the Michigan Wolverines and North Carolina Tar Heels.

RELATED: Leading to top G in Tennessee transfer portal

In the first recruiting cycle, Harris seemed certain to attend Michigan. He reportedly visited Ann Arbor because the event celebrated the men’s basketball national championship, and a commitment seemed inevitable. Since then, things have changed a lot.

Tennessee and North Carolina held home-and-home visits with Harris suddenly making it a three-program battle for one of the top players in the college basketball transfer portal. While the opportunity to play close to home may prove attractive, it is also reported that Tennessee was originally a finalist for him after coming out of high school. Further strengthening the Volunteers’ chances, as Nacos noted, head coach Rick Barnes has a good relationship with Harris’ former coach at Wake Forest, Steve Forbes.

RELATED: Tennessee Volunteers to spend big bucks on basketball

Of course, landing one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal comes at a price. Nakos reports that Harris is expected to earn a deal “north of $3 million” for the 2026-27 season. This is a price that volunteers are “willing to pay” even with additional payments already made.

If he does commit, with the decision potentially taking more than a week, Harris will be the starting shooting guard for Tennessee next season, with fellow transfer Tyler Lundblad coming off the bench behind him. The Volunteers have also added guard Dai Dai Ames to the transfer portal and remain in the active search for a point guard to replace Ja’Coby Gillespie.

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Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson