Maryland Guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie Transfers to Tennessee from NCAA Portal
By Thomas Goldkamp
Maryland guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie has entered the NCAA transfer portal. He now commits to the University of Tennessee. Gillespie played one season with Maryland after coming from Belmont. He seeks new challenges with the Volunteers next season.
Gillespie began his college career at Belmont. He shined as a sophomore. His strong season led him to transfer to Maryland. At Belmont, he averaged 17.2 points per game. He also tallied 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals. Coaches named him to the MVC All-Conference Second Team, the MVC All-Defensive Team, and the MVC Most-Improved Team.
At Maryland, Gillespie showed strong offense and great skill. He helped the Terrapins reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. In the tournament, he scored 44 points over four games. He shot 13-of-32 from the field and 7-of-20 from three-point range. He also added 10 assists, eight steals, and six rebounds.
Gillespie shone in many games this season. He posted a double-double against Syracuse with 17 points and 11 assists. He scored 24 points against Marquette, 23 against Ohio State, 27 against UCLA, and 26 against Iowa. These scores show that he performs well under pressure.
Now, Gillespie moves to Tennessee. The Volunteers reached the Elite Eight last season before losing to Houston. Coach Rick Barnes leads the team. Tennessee often contends in March Madness. Gillespie is expected to boost their performance.
Gillespie has strong scoring skills. He makes smart plays in high-pressure games. His experience will help Tennessee in the coming season. This move gives the Volunteers a fresh chance at another deep tournament run.
