University of Tennessee Athletics
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Vols in the Pros Update: Nov. 6
November 06, 2025 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the 2025-26 NBA calendar has commenced, six VFLs cracked opening day NBA rosters, while numerous additional former Tennessee men's basketball players are competing around the globe and in the G League. A breakdown of Volunteers playing professional basketball, including those playing in Europe and beyond, can be found below.
Information aided by Eurobasket LLC
VOLS IN THE NBA
Tobias Harris | Detroit Pistons | at Tennessee 2010-11
Harris, who has started six games already, was a key part of the Pistons' victory over the Orlando Magic, 135-116, on Oct. 29. Harris scored 23 points and added three assists. The Detroit Pistons have a 6-2 record on the young season, helped in part by Harris' 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Dalton Knecht | Los Angeles Lakers | at Tennessee 2023-24
Knecht registered his first start of the 2025-26 season on Monday in Portland, helping his Lakers to a 123-115 win by tallying eight points in 23 minutes. Through the early going, Knecht has averaged 6.5 points per game in an average of 18.4 minutes per contest. He is shooting 80.0 percent at the free-throw line.
Chaz Lanier | Detroit Pistons | at Tennessee 2024-25
Tennessee's single-season record holder for made 3-pointers, Lanier logged his first such make at the NBA level on Oct. 24 in his debut performance. Thus far, the rookie has posted 11 points through five games played, adding two assists and one rebound.
Julian Phillips | Chicago Bulls | at Tennessee 2022-23
A third-year pro, Phillips has appeared in six games this season for Chicago, including scoring five points on Oct. 27 in a tight 128-123 victory over Atlanta. He has amassed nine points, three steals, two boards, one assist and one block on the year.
Grant Williams | Charlotte Hornets | at Tennessee 2016-19
Williams has yet to make debut this season for his hometown team, as he is still recovering from a right knee injury suffered in in November 2024. Williams, a two-time SEC Player of the Year, is in his seventh season in the NBA.
VOLS OVERSEAS
Darlinstone Dubar | Greece | at Tennessee 2024-25
Dubar is off to a strong start with Peiramatiko in the Greek Elite League, recently putting up 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game at NE Megaridas, shooting 11-of-18 from the floor. The first-year pro is averaging 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game on the season, while scoring 20-plus in three of five outings.
Jordan Gainey | Croatia | at Tennessee 2023-25
Gainey has garnered consistent minutes with Cedevita Jr. in Croatia-Premjier Liga and has gotten off to a productive start with 15.5 points per game, including a 50.0 percent clip (14-28) from deep. He has added 2.8 boards and 2.5 assists per game through six contests.
Jordan McRae | Israel | at Tennessee 2010-14
McRae, a former NBA veteran who won a title in 2016 and has since reestablished his career overseas, led Hapoel Holon to an 86-77 victory over Eliztur Netanya. He scored 20 points and added four assists to give Hapoel Holon a strong 3-0 start. Later, he broke out for an impressive 37 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 10-for-10 at the stripe against Cholet in a Champions League matchup. On the season, McRae is averaging 21.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Yves Pons | Spain | at Tennessee 2017-21
Pons had his best game of the young season in a 115-113 victory over Basquet Girona, scoring 20 points and shooting 4-of-9 from 3-point range. The 2019-20 SEC Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on the season thus far.
Kevin Punter Jr. | Spain | at Tennessee 2014-16
Competing for FC Barcelona Lassa in Spain, Punter has performed well in the EuroLeague, highlighted by a 27-point, seven-assist showing in Barcelona's Oct. 10, 108-102 victory over Valencia. He began his season on a perfect 18-for-18 run from the line and now sports an 87.0 percent mark on free throws. Punter remains on the best and highest-paid players in Europe.
ADDITIONAL VOLS IN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
Information aided by Eurobasket LLC
VOLS IN THE NBA
Tobias Harris | Detroit Pistons | at Tennessee 2010-11
Harris, who has started six games already, was a key part of the Pistons' victory over the Orlando Magic, 135-116, on Oct. 29. Harris scored 23 points and added three assists. The Detroit Pistons have a 6-2 record on the young season, helped in part by Harris' 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Dalton Knecht | Los Angeles Lakers | at Tennessee 2023-24
Knecht registered his first start of the 2025-26 season on Monday in Portland, helping his Lakers to a 123-115 win by tallying eight points in 23 minutes. Through the early going, Knecht has averaged 6.5 points per game in an average of 18.4 minutes per contest. He is shooting 80.0 percent at the free-throw line.
Chaz Lanier | Detroit Pistons | at Tennessee 2024-25
Tennessee's single-season record holder for made 3-pointers, Lanier logged his first such make at the NBA level on Oct. 24 in his debut performance. Thus far, the rookie has posted 11 points through five games played, adding two assists and one rebound.
Julian Phillips | Chicago Bulls | at Tennessee 2022-23
A third-year pro, Phillips has appeared in six games this season for Chicago, including scoring five points on Oct. 27 in a tight 128-123 victory over Atlanta. He has amassed nine points, three steals, two boards, one assist and one block on the year.
Grant Williams | Charlotte Hornets | at Tennessee 2016-19
Williams has yet to make debut this season for his hometown team, as he is still recovering from a right knee injury suffered in in November 2024. Williams, a two-time SEC Player of the Year, is in his seventh season in the NBA.
VOLS OVERSEAS
Darlinstone Dubar | Greece | at Tennessee 2024-25
Dubar is off to a strong start with Peiramatiko in the Greek Elite League, recently putting up 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game at NE Megaridas, shooting 11-of-18 from the floor. The first-year pro is averaging 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game on the season, while scoring 20-plus in three of five outings.
Jordan Gainey | Croatia | at Tennessee 2023-25
Gainey has garnered consistent minutes with Cedevita Jr. in Croatia-Premjier Liga and has gotten off to a productive start with 15.5 points per game, including a 50.0 percent clip (14-28) from deep. He has added 2.8 boards and 2.5 assists per game through six contests.
Jordan McRae | Israel | at Tennessee 2010-14
McRae, a former NBA veteran who won a title in 2016 and has since reestablished his career overseas, led Hapoel Holon to an 86-77 victory over Eliztur Netanya. He scored 20 points and added four assists to give Hapoel Holon a strong 3-0 start. Later, he broke out for an impressive 37 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 10-for-10 at the stripe against Cholet in a Champions League matchup. On the season, McRae is averaging 21.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Yves Pons | Spain | at Tennessee 2017-21
Pons had his best game of the young season in a 115-113 victory over Basquet Girona, scoring 20 points and shooting 4-of-9 from 3-point range. The 2019-20 SEC Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on the season thus far.
Kevin Punter Jr. | Spain | at Tennessee 2014-16
Competing for FC Barcelona Lassa in Spain, Punter has performed well in the EuroLeague, highlighted by a 27-point, seven-assist showing in Barcelona's Oct. 10, 108-102 victory over Valencia. He began his season on a perfect 18-for-18 run from the line and now sports an 87.0 percent mark on free throws. Punter remains on the best and highest-paid players in Europe.
ADDITIONAL VOLS IN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
- Kyle Alexander (at Tennessee 2015-19) plays for Turk Telekom Ankara in Turkey
- Victor Bailey Jr. (at Tennessee 2019-22) plays for Krka in Slovenia
- Devon Baulkman (at Tennessee 2014-16) signed with Cimarrones del Choco in Colombia
- Jordan Bone (at Tennessee 2016-19) plays for Hapoel Nofar Energy Galil Elion in Israel
- Jordan Bowden (at Tennessee 2016-20) plays for Cantu in Italy
- Kennedy Chandler (at Tennessee 2021-22) played for Philadelphia 76ers during the NBA preseason
- Wayne Chism (at Tennessee 2006-10) signed with Al-Muharraq in Bahrain
- John Fields (at Tennessee 2010-11) signed with Nhatrang Dolphins in Vietnam
- John Fulkerson (at Tennessee 2016-22) signed with Juventus in Lithuania
- Kenny Hall (at Tennessee 2009-13) signed with Immortals the in Dominican Republic
- Josiah-Jordan James (at Tennessee 2019-24) plays for Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Israel
- Keon Johnson (at Tennessee 2020-21) played for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA last season
- Tyreke Key (at Tennessee 2022-23) signed with Raptors 905 in the G League
- Jahmai Mashack (at Tennessee 2021-25) is with the Memphis Grizzlies organization
- Igor Miličić Jr. (at Tennessee 2024-25) is with the Philadelphia 76ers organization
- Olivier Nkamhoua (at Tennessee 2019-23) plays for Itelyum Varese in Italy
- Uroš Plavšić (at Tennessee 2019-23) plays for Crvena zvezda in Serbia
- Derek Reese (at Tennessee 2012-16) played for Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico in the summer
- Admiral Schofield (at Tennessee 2015-19) plays for Cairns Taipans in Australia
- Jaden Springer (at Tennessee 2020-21) made the New Orleans Pelicans' opening day NBA roster in the NBA, but was recently released
- Lamonte' Turner (at Tennessee 2016-20) played for Balkan in Bulgaria last season
- Santiago Vescovi (at Tennessee 2019-24) signed with Penarol in the Uruguay
- Brian Williams (at Tennessee 2008-12) signed with FG Guasave in Mexico
- Zakai Zeigler (at Tennessee 2021-25) plays for Nanterre 92 in France
Players Mentioned
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