Tennessee got to the precipice of the Final Four for the third straight year, once again falling in the Elite Eight in last Sunday’s blowout loss to Michigan.
Now, as it tries to pick up the pieces for next season, it’s apparently losing a talented frontcourt player who could’ve helped a lot during the 2026-27 season. According to a report on Friday afternoon by On3’s Joe Tipton, Volunteers forward Cade Phillips is planning to enter the transfer portal. Phillips was an important part of Tennessee‘s rotation early this season, making 9 starts in 10 total appearances before his campaign was cut short by season-ending shoulder surgery.
Phillips’ last appearance for Rick Barnes’ team this past season — and now maybe for good — came in December, before the Alabama product announced he was going to have the shoulder surgery. According to Friday’s report, Tennessee was set to file a medical redshirt waiver for Phillips.
He has spent 3 seasons in the Tennessee basketball program, growing into a starter this past season before it was ruined by injury. During his sophomore season in 2024-25, Phillips averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds, playing just under 15 minutes per game. As a freshman the season before, Phillips made 13 appearances for the Vols and averaged 6.0 minutes per contest.
The Rainbow City, Ala., native stayed in SEC country to play at Tennessee but now is reportedly headed elsewhere for next season, possibly leaving the Vols with a potential hole in their rotation that otherwise would’ve been filled with his expected return from injury.
Tennessee fell just short of the Final Four once again, falling in the Elite Eight for the third straight year. But 4 teams are in Indianapolis this weekend with a chance to win it all on Monday night, and here is what the Kalshi market is saying about the championship odds for those remaining teams:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
