標籤: Promising

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.

RELATED: Tennessee Volunteers to spend big bucks on basketball

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.

RELATED: Insider sheds light on Tennessee’s approach to transfer portal

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

It is the last day of the New Jersey Devils regular season. And then that’s it, friends. The Devils will return to New Jersey in the coming days, clean out their lockers, and disperse for the summer months before returning for training camp in September.

In the meantime, there will be plenty to learn in New Jersey. For starters, they need a general manager. We spoke to Greg Wyshinski on Sunny Mehta’s potential fit. You can find it by linking below.

Also, some brief thoughts on Dawson Mercer, and why Lenny Haminaho was reassigned.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Heading into a chaotic offseason, here are six thoughts after the home finale, including Dawson Mercer’s outlook, Sheldon Keefe’s future and more.

Yesterday, the Devils re-assigned Lenny Haminaho to the American Hockey League to play for the Utica Comets. here’s why.

📺 devil’s rink report: Is Sunny Mehta ready to become the next Devils GM? Greg Wyshinski joins me to share his thoughts on the latest Devils Rink report.

Full episode here 👇🏼

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: Jonathan Quick is officially retiring. The New York Rangers goaltender announced that 2025-26 is his final season in the NHL.

Athletic ($): Are the Chicago Blackhawks the next Kirill Kaprizov owner? Here’s an interesting article by Scott Powers.

NYI Hockey Now: The New York Islanders’ last second desperate move to fire Patrick Roy and hire Pete DeBoer proved to be too little, too late. More from Pat Pickens here.

Philly hockey now: One of the great deals made by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2026 NHL trade deadline was the acquisition of David Jiricek. He has now officially been recalled as Philly prepares its pitch for the postseason.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike suffered a neck injury early last season, leading many to wonder if it would threaten his career. Luckily for Baltimore, it appears all hope for a comeback is not lost.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, there is now “increasing optimism” within the Ravens organization that Madubuike may be able to return to football.

Head coach Jesse Minter and general manager Eric DeCosta have both been asked about Madubuike this offseason. Each time, top Baltimore officials refused to provide an update.

Madubuike, 28, has started the 2025 NFL season in great form. He earned a 73.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, recording 4 pressures, 3 quarterback hits, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks through two games. He was removed from the second week’s game with a neck injury and was placed on injured reserve a few weeks later, with the team never giving any indication that he would return.

Without the 6-foot-3 defensive tackle, Baltimore’s pass rush suffered. The Ravens finished the regular season with the fifth-lowest pressure rate (19 percent) in the NFL and the fifth-lowest ESPN pass-rush win rate (30 percent).

A possible indication regarding Madubuike’s long-term health could come as early as the 2026 NFL Draft. With the 14th overall pick, Baltimore can take one of the top interior defensive linemen available. If the situation isn’t addressed in the first three rounds, it’s a pretty good sign that Madubuike may have a real chance to play for Baltimore again.

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 Los Angeles Clippers received an important update regarding rookie center Yannick Konan Niederhauser’s injury after the team confirmed that the 22-year-old has undergone surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the process was successful but the organization has not set a timeline for the rookie’s return.

“The Clippers say Yannick Konan Niederhauser had successful surgery Tuesday to repair a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.

There is no timetable yet for his return.”

Konan Niederhauser suffered the injury during the Clippers’ 130-107 win over the Indiana Pacers last Wednesday. He logged just eight minutes before exiting the game, but made an immediate impact, finishing with six points, four rebounds and two blocks while shooting 2-for-2 from the field.

Before the injury, the rookie was beginning to play a larger role in the Clippers’ rotation. Over his last seven games, Konan Niederhauser averaged 7.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 55.2% from the field. He displayed efficiency from beyond the arc and the free-throw line during that stretch, shooting 50% from three-point range and 94.7% at the line in 16.7 minutes per contest.

His recent emergence marks a promising development for a Clippers team that has relied on depth and frontcourt versatility throughout the season.

Clippers await Yannick Konan Niederhauser’s recovery timeline

Overall, Konan Niederhauser appeared in 41 games during his rookie campaign, averaging 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting an efficient 64% from the field and 75.8% from the free-throw line. He has played 10.3 minutes per game and gradually earned more opportunities as the season progressed.

Lisfranc injuries, which affect the midfoot area, can often require an extended recovery period depending on the severity. With no official timeline announced, the Clippers will likely monitor Konan Niederhauser’s rehabilitation closely before determining when he can return to basketball activities.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles will look to maintain momentum after its recent turnaround. The Clippers extended their winning streak to two games by defeating the New York Knicks 126-118 on Monday night.

The win improved Los Angeles to 32–32 on the season, leaving the team in eighth place in the Western Conference standings after recovering from a difficult 6–21 start.

The Clippers continue their four-game homestand on Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm PT as Los Angeles attempts to continue its lead in the Western Conference standings while awaiting further updates on the rookie’s recovery.

The Washington Wizards have been in full tank mode lately, with several players, including trade acquisitions Trae Young and Anthony Davis, sidelined with reported injuries. The Wizards are pushing all of their chips into the center of the table to try to secure the top draft pick, and as a result, some lesser-known players are getting a chance to showcase their skills for the remainder of the season.

One of those players is rookie Jamir Watkins, and on Thursday, it was revealed that the Wizards will be committed to the young guard long-term.

“The Washington Wizards are signing two-way guard Jameer Watkins to a new two-year contract. Watkins has averaged 13.2 points and one steal over his last six games,” CAA Sports agents Drew Morrison and Sam Rose told ESPN.

Watkins was drafted by the Wizards in the second round in 2025 after finishing his college career at Florida State. While Watkins is big by rookie standards at 24, he has still displayed an interesting skill set during his play with the Wizards so far, as well as the ability to defend on the perimeter, which will be an area of ​​significant need for the team heading into next year.

Washington is hoping to re-enter the playoff mix next season, as they will look to add a blue-chip prospect from the 2026 draft to pair with Young, Davis, center Alex Sarr (who is currently out of the lineup) and some of their other interesting young players.

In a weak Eastern Conference, that core could be enough to turn the Wizards into a formidable team for the first time in nearly a decade.

In any case, the Wizards will next take the field on Thursday against Young’s former team, the Atlanta Hawks.