It's no secret that Tennessee basketball wanted to drastically improve its offense the second the transfer portal opened on April 7.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said that was the case as the Vols finalize their roster for the 2026-27 season.
"We felt like we wanted to get more scoring as quickly as we could," Barnes said at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga on April 28.
The Vols targeted offensive production within their six transfer additions. Each player averaged double-digit scoring with their previous teams.
Belmont guard Tyler Lundblade, Cal guard Dai Dai Ames and VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. were all the top options on their teams before coming to Tennessee. Forward Jalen Haralson was Notre Dame's second-leading scorer, and both Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin and Kennesaw State forward Braedan Lue averaged over 10 points.
Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesTennessee forward DeWayne Brown II (6) moves towards the basket while guarded by Texas forward Camden Heide (5) in an NCAA college basketball game on January 6, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.Tennessee guard Troy Henderson (24) dribbles past Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during a NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 17, 2026.Feb 7, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jalen Haralson (10) drives to the basket as Florida State Seminoles guard Lajae Jones (10) defends during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn ImagesJan 2, 2026; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) looks to drive around Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Braeden Shrewsberry (11) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn ImagesBelmont's Tyler Lundblade, right, lines up one of his three-pointers against Bradley in the second half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 at Carver Arena. Lundblade dropped eight three-pointers and the Braves fell to the Bruins 80-77.Mar 15, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Loyola Chicago Ramblers center Miles Rubin (24) shoots the ball as VCU Rams forward Luke Bamgboye (9) defends in the first half in a semifinal of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesIMG's Ralph Scott blocks a dunk attempt at IMG Academy on Feb. 7, 2025.1 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsMar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images1 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsMar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images2 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsTennessee forward DeWayne Brown II (6) moves towards the basket while guarded by Texas forward Camden Heide (5) in an NCAA college basketball game on January 6, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.3 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsTennessee guard Troy Henderson (24) dribbles past Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during a NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 17, 2026.4 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsFeb 7, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jalen Haralson (10) drives to the basket as Florida State Seminoles guard Lajae Jones (10) defends during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images5 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsJan 2, 2026; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) looks to drive around Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Braeden Shrewsberry (11) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images6 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsBelmont's Tyler Lundblade, right, lines up one of his three-pointers against Bradley in the second half of their MVC basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 at Carver Arena. Lundblade dropped eight three-pointers and the Braves fell to the Bruins 80-77.7 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsMar 15, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Loyola Chicago Ramblers center Miles Rubin (24) shoots the ball as VCU Rams forward Luke Bamgboye (9) defends in the first half in a semifinal of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images8 / 8Tennessee basketball 2026-27 roster for Rick Barnes with transfer portal additionsIMG's Ralph Scott blocks a dunk attempt at IMG Academy on Feb. 7, 2025.The class, though, runs small. Rubin and Lue join returning forward DeWayne Brown II as the only frontcourt players.
It's a stark turn from last season, when Tennessee embraced an identity of physicality, defense and an imposing frontcourt to surround senior Ja'Kobi Gillespie and freshman Nate Ament, who declared for the NBA draft.
Barnes, though, isn't worried about the lack of depth.
"This team will develop its own identity," he said. "Even if we had a lot of people back, I think that team would have had to develop its own identity because I think you do that every year. We have an idea of how we want to play every year and we have a system that we have in place. But that system, we've tweaked it going on 12 years now. It's all been different.
"People forget, when they talk about size, Grant Williams was literally 6-foot-5 and a half, 6-6, and was a two-time player of the year up front. There's a lot of different ways to go about it with the front line."
Tennessee is trying to reach the Final Four for the first time. Three of the Final Four teams this past season had top-30 offenses in the country, including Michigan's ninth-best rating. The Vols' fell outside the top 100.
Tennessee was forced to remake the roster following the departure of five possible returners. Forwards J.P. Estrella (Michigan), Jaylen Carey (Missouri), Cade Phillips (Texas A&M) and guards Bishop Boswell (Maryland) and Amari Evans (Texas) all found new spots.
Barnes wished "them nothing but the best" as he pivoted toward building a roster through the portal.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Rick Barnes' priority for Tennessee basketball roster in portal