Tennessee basketball isn't done just yet in the transfer portal, but the class Rick Barnes has put together is already among the best in the country.
The Vols have officially signed Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Vanderbilt forward Jaylen Carey.
According to EvanMiya, a site that uses analytics to assess college basketball, this makes up the No. 3 class in the country. The only programs in front of Tennessee are Michigan and Kentucky who bring in four players each.
Miya has Gillespie ranked as a five-star transfer and Carey ranked as a four-star. The next highest-ranked class with two or less players is BYU at No. 8.
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Full EvanMiya rankings
Who is Ja'Kobi Gillespie
Gillespie began his career at Belmont. In his freshman year, he appeared in 32 games while making eight starts. He earned spots on both the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team and Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team.
He averaged 9.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a true freshman.
As a sophomore, Gillespie earned spots on the MVC All-Conference Second Team, MVC All-Defensive Team and MVC Most-Improved Team.
This came on averages of 17.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 25 games. He started 24 of these matches.
Through the two years, Gillespie shot 51.1% from the floor and 34.8% on 3-pointers.
He would enter the transfer portal before finding his second home at Maryland. With the Terrapins, he helped the team reach a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament and berth in the Sweet 16.
Gillespie started in all 36 games he appeared in while averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 assister per game. He shot 45.3% from the field and 40.7% on 3-pointers.
In the Sweet 16 loss to 1-seed Florida, he posted 17 points and two steals. In the second round win over 12-seed Colorado State, he managed 11 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. In the opener against 13-seed Grand Canyon, Gillespie notched 16 points, three assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block.
Who is Jaylen Carey
Carey is coming off his sophomore season and first with the Commodores. He posted eight points per game on 48.8% shooting from the field and 23.1% on 3-pointers.
He also contributed 5.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
This came in 33 appearances and one start. He played an average of 20.2 minutes per match.
Carey saw action in both of Vanderbilt's games against Tennessee this year. In the Commodores win in Nashville, he recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He also earned an assist, block and steal.
In the Vols' win in Knoxville, Carey logged 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists. This was good for an average of 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and two assists per game played against Tennessee last year.
Carey began his career at James Madison before following Coach Mark Byington to Vanderbilt. With the Dukes, he played in all 36 games as a true freshman while averaging seven points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 15 minutes a night.
JMU went 32-4 that year while winning the Sun Belt title and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
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