Tennessee basketball adds elite scorer through transfer portal” To Replace….
Tennessee basketball gets its first incoming transfer after Hofstra guard Darlinstone Dubar announces he’s coming to Rocky Top.
Tennessee basketball gets its first incoming transfer after Hofstra guard Darlinstone Dubar announces he’s coming to Rocky Top. The super senior visited Tennessee over the weekend with Belmont guard Cade Tyson and committed to the Vols on Monday.
Dubar averaged 17.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season, shooting 53.9% from the field and 39.9% from three at Hofstra. He’s been right at 40% from three the past two seasons and could be a big addition for the Vols.
Tennessee has notably struggled shooting, especially behind the three-point line, and Rick Barnes has emphasized recruiting players who specialize in shooting the deep ball. Dubar is the first of a few Barnes is hoping to bring to Rocky Top to replace outgoing production.
Dubar is also an efficient scorer and has been touted as one of the most efficient scorers in the country. He can score from anywhere on the court and isn’t afraid to attack the basket with his size as a guard. It’s part of the reason he earned 2nd-team All-CAA last season. Just take a look at his shot chart from last year.
Dubar will be a welcomed addition to the Vols roster. Tennessee is currently going to be without three starters, with Dalton Knecht, Josiah-Jordan James, and Santiago Vescovi graduating. The additions of Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka in the transfer portal put five of Tennessee’s biggest producers on the way out of Knoxville.
That’s a lot of production to replace, but Barnes seems to be on top of things, with the plan to host at least one of the transfers this week. While there are rumors that Barnes could be preparing for his final season on Rocky Top, he’s not going out without a fight.
Dubar is the first transfer to commit to the Vols during the spring transfer portal window, which will close at the end of the month. The Vols will look to add a couple more transfers throughout the rest of this month as they look to rebuild their roster after winning the SEC Championship last season.
Lady Vols basketball sends another player to the WNBA with Rickea Jackson being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 4 overall.
Lady Vols basketball sends another player to the WNBA, with Rickea Jackson being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 4 overall. The native of Detroit, Michigan, will have the opportunity to move out west to begin her professional basketball career.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was a lock at the No. 1 overall pick to the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks took Stanford forward Cameron Brink at No. 2, and the Chicago Sky went with South Carolina’s center Kamilla Cardoso, which opened the door for the Sparks to bring another Lady Vol to Los Angeles.
The Sparks came into this draft emphasizing adding size to their roster, and they did that by adding Brink and Jackson as rookies. Jackson isn’t a massive post player. She only stands at 6’2″, so she brings toughness, versatility, and tenacity to Los Angeles with her play.
Jackson averaged 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in her senior season. She did it all for the Lady Vols and was a leader on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. She also averaged 20 points in her last three seasons on Rocky Top.
Brink is a versatile player, and Jackson can add another big, versatile body to the lineup to help the Sparks do a better job on both ends of the court. Adding Brink and Jackson could also help the Sparks return to the WNBA playoffs for the first time in four years.
She’s a generational player with a strong body who is ready to make an immediate impact in the WNBA with the Sparks. The new-look Sparks could be a fun team to watch, with Brink and Jackson paired with Nneka Ogwumike, Jordin Canada, and Layshia Clarendon.
Jackson will have a few weeks to prepare for the WNBA season with her new teammates. The Sparks begin their preseason on Sunday, May 5, with the regular season beginning on Wednesday, May 15, against the Atlanta Dream.
