University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Gillespie Tabbed a Riley Wallace Award Finalist
March 12, 2026 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee men's basketball standout Ja'Kobi Gillespie reeled in yet another accolade Thursday afternoon, as he was named a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award.
The senior guard is one of 25 finalists for the award, which is presented annually to the premier transfer in the country. He is the only one from the SEC.
This is the third consecutive year Tennessee has a Riley Wallace Award finalist. Dalton Knecht won the distinction 2023-24 and Chaz Lanier was a finalist in 2024-25. All three also won SEC Newcomer of the Year plaudits; Knecht and Gillespie earned the AP distinction, while Lanier took the coaches' honor (started in 2024-25).
A First Team All-SEC designee from the league's coaches, Gillespie leads Tennessee in points (18.0), assists (5.6), steals (2.1) and minutes (34.3) per game, the latter three of which put him second in the league through the end of the regular season.
The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder, Gillespie has one USBWA National Player of the Week and one SEC Player of the Week nod to his name. He is a finalist for the Lute Olson Award and a member of the Naismith Trophy Late Season Team.
A native of Greeneville, Tenn., Gillespie owns 23 showings with 15-plus points this season. He has recorded at least five assists in 15 of those affairs.
The Riley Wallace Award is named after the former head coach at Centenary (1976-78) and Hawaii (1987-2007). At the latter, Wallace welcomed many transfers and became the winningest coach in school history, leading the program to nine postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournament bids.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of CollegeInsider.com. The winners will be announced in April in Indianapolis, the site of the Final Four.
Gillespie and No. 25/RV Tennessee (21-10, 11-7 SEC) open SEC Tournament play Thursday at 3 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Seeded fifth in the event, the Volunteers play No. 12-seeded Auburn, live on SEC Network.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
The senior guard is one of 25 finalists for the award, which is presented annually to the premier transfer in the country. He is the only one from the SEC.
This is the third consecutive year Tennessee has a Riley Wallace Award finalist. Dalton Knecht won the distinction 2023-24 and Chaz Lanier was a finalist in 2024-25. All three also won SEC Newcomer of the Year plaudits; Knecht and Gillespie earned the AP distinction, while Lanier took the coaches' honor (started in 2024-25).
A First Team All-SEC designee from the league's coaches, Gillespie leads Tennessee in points (18.0), assists (5.6), steals (2.1) and minutes (34.3) per game, the latter three of which put him second in the league through the end of the regular season.
The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder, Gillespie has one USBWA National Player of the Week and one SEC Player of the Week nod to his name. He is a finalist for the Lute Olson Award and a member of the Naismith Trophy Late Season Team.
A native of Greeneville, Tenn., Gillespie owns 23 showings with 15-plus points this season. He has recorded at least five assists in 15 of those affairs.
The Riley Wallace Award is named after the former head coach at Centenary (1976-78) and Hawaii (1987-2007). At the latter, Wallace welcomed many transfers and became the winningest coach in school history, leading the program to nine postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournament bids.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of CollegeInsider.com. The winners will be announced in April in Indianapolis, the site of the Final Four.
Gillespie and No. 25/RV Tennessee (21-10, 11-7 SEC) open SEC Tournament play Thursday at 3 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Seeded fifth in the event, the Volunteers play No. 12-seeded Auburn, live on SEC Network.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMBB | Highlights: Tennessee 72, Auburn 62
Thursday, March 12
MBB | Amari Evans Media Availability (3.11.26)
Wednesday, March 11
MBB | Gregg Polinsky Media Availability (3.11.26)
Wednesday, March 11
MBB | DeWayne Brown II Media Availability (3.10.26)
Tuesday, March 10
