Alumni Mentorship Highlights Volunteers’ Future
A group of five former Tennessee Volunteers alumni — Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara and Amaree Abram — returned to Knoxville this week for an intensive practice session with the current Volunteers roster.
The workout featured a series of scrimmages that paired the veterans against today’s squad, with matchups such as Gainey squaring off against Dai Dai Ames and Gillespie facing Terrence Hill Jr., providing a vivid preview of the team’s depth.
Gillespie and Okpara, both second‑round picks in the recent NBA Draft after guiding Tennessee to the Elite Eight, showcased their professional readiness; Gillespie posted a 16‑point average with 4.2 assists in the NBA Summer League, while Okpara contributed 8 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Zeigler, who logged limited minutes for the San Antonio Spurs in the same Summer League, managed just 0.8 points per game, yet his presence underscored the varied pathways taken by Volunteers alumni.
Hill Jr., who cited Gillespie’s performances during the Volunteers’ NCAA Tournament run as a personal inspiration, used the session to reinforce his own commitment to the program.
Dalton Knecht, another former Volunteer, visited the campus to run a youth basketball camp, offering advice to the current players and reinforcing the mentorship culture fostered by the coaching staff.
Head coach Rick Barnes, who has assembled one of the nation’s top transfer‑portal classes following three consecutive Elite Eight appearances, emphasized that the alumni event illustrates the tangible results of hard work and strategic recruitment.
The gathering served a dual purpose: it highlighted the program’s upward trajectory and provided the younger Volunteers with concrete examples of what dedication can achieve, reinforcing the narrative that the current roster is built on a foundation of experienced mentors.