Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee Volunteers, G - News, Stats, Bio

Last Game

Sun, Mar 29 |

@ 1 Michigan Wolverines (37-3)

United Center

Final

Game Recap

SEC Standings

Team	Conf	Overall
FLA	16-2	27-8
ARK	13-5	28-9
BAMA	13-5	25-10
VANDY	11-7	27-9
TENN	11-7	25-12
TEXAM	11-7	22-12
UGA	10-8	22-11
UK	10-8	22-14
MIZZOU	10-8	20-13
TEXAS	9-9	21-15
AUBURN	7-11	22-16
OKLA	7-11	21-16
MISSST	5-13	13-19
MISS	4-14	15-20
SC	4-14	13-19
LSU	3-15	15-17

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Ja'Kobi Gillespie grateful to play final season with Tennessee basketball
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Felix Okpara reflects on final season with Tennessee basketball
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Draft Scouting Report

Pro Comparison: Payton Pritchard

Summary

Gillespie had three stops in his college career, initially distinguishing himself in two seasons at Belmont and then making an immediate splash as Derik Queen’s running man at Maryland. When Kevin Willard left for Villanova, Gillespie returned to the portal, ending up at Tennessee this time, where he continued to distinguish himself as one of the best point guards in college basketball.

About

2026 All-SEC First Team. Ranked 7th in the conference in scoring (18.4), second in assists (5.4), and third in steals (2.1).
2025 All-Big Ten Third Team and led the conference in 3-pointers made (87).
2024 All-MVC Second Team and All-Defensive team. 2023 MVC All-Freshman Team.

Strengths

Talented offensive player with deep shooting range, soft natural ball, and the ability to create for himself and others off the dribble.
Defensive playmaking ability with quick hands and feet that have consistently generated high steal rates. Also has competitive intangibles from his football background.
Deceptive vertical athlete who registered a 39.5 max vert and can occasionally surprise you on the break.

Weaknesses

Lacks prototypical NBA size at 5-11.75 without shoes, but compensates with a 6-4 wingspan. Also older for the draft process after having turned 22 in March.
Can be ball-dominant at times offensively and shot a career low 41% from the floor this year, although he was tasked with generating so much offense for a Tennessee team that lacked ideal floor-spacing.
May not navigate the lane with quite the pinpoint expertise needed for his playmaking to translate to the NBA level at his size.

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