Juke Harris, a 6‑foot‑5 forward who spent two seasons at Wake Forest, announced his commitment to the University of Tennessee in the summer of 2024, choosing the Volunteers over Michigan and North Carolina after pulling out of the NBA Draft.
A New Chapter for Tennessee Basketball
Ranked as the No. 7 overall transfer and the second‑best small forward by 247Sports, Harris arrives in Knoxville with a reputation that includes ACC Most Improved Player honors and a place among the program’s all‑time scoring leaders.
During the 2023‑24 campaign he posted averages of 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists, scoring the second‑most points in Wake Forest history and earning All‑ACC Second‑Team recognition.
Under head coach Rick Barnes, Harris has emphasized a defensive transformation, noting improvements in ball‑screen navigation and physicality, while also embracing a transition‑oriented offense that seeks early scoring opportunities.
The Volunteers’ practice regimen, which includes intense sessions that Barnes describes as ‘tougher than most’, has helped Harris adapt to new roles, including minutes at point guard, and has fostered chemistry with teammates such as VCU transfer Terrence Hill and freshman phenom Ralph Scott.
Harris also praised the off‑court bonding that has developed in the locker room, the challenging non‑conference schedule that includes a matchup with Coastal Carolina, and the potential impact of newcomer Jalen Haralson, whom he says is nearly impossible to stop in transition.