Watch: Tennessee basketball transfer forward Igor Milicic Jr. arrives in Knoxville
Charlotte transfer forward Igor Milicic Jr. has officially arrived on Tennessee’s campus to begin his career with the Vols. Tennessee Basketball on Tuesday showed off Milicic’s arrival in a video published on social media.
“What’s up, Vol Nation?” Milicic said in the video. “Just got here, ready to work.”
Milicic became Tennessee’s third official addition from the NCAA Transfer Portal when he signed with the Vols on Thursday. He announced his commitment on April 29, picking Tennessee over Baylor and Nebraska.
“He is a talented player who has received excellent coaching throughout his career,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said in a statement, “both in college and in Europe, including learning from his father, Igor Sr., who is one of the best in the business.”
Hofstra wing Darlinstone Dubar signed with Tennessee on April 19 and Ohio State center Felix Okpara committed and signed on April 25.
welcome home, Igor pic.twitter.com/vRg0BKCMYg
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) May 14, 2024
Rick Barnes: Igor Milcic is ‘a versatile competitor … (with a) unique and polished skill set’
Milicic, the 6-foot-10, 225-pound junior took an official visit to Tennessee the weekend of April 13 and was at Baylor last weekend. He previously visited Nebraska.
He averaged 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds this season with the 49ers, shooting 48.7% from the field and 37.6% from the 3-point line. He started his career at Virginia before transferring to Charlotte after the 2021-22 season. He entered the transfer portal on March 25.
“A versatile competitor, Igor has an impressive, unique and polished skill set that we think will translate well to the SEC,” Barnes said. “He is a quality 3-point shooter and superb defensive rebounder with big-time upside.
“Igor possesses invaluable experience on the international level with the Polish National Team and he has improved every year as a collegian. We feel he will fit in well at Tennessee, both on and off the court.”
Four Tennessee players left via the NCAA Transfer Portal
Dubar spent the last three seasons at Hofstra after playing his first season at Iowa State. Dubar averaged a career-high 17.8 points per game in 33 games this season, shooting 53.9% from the floor and 39.9% from the 3-point line. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 34.6 minutes per game.
Okpara, the fourth official visitor Tennessee hosted out of the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason, averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks this season and averaged 5.3 points and 5.0 rebounds over the last two years.
He started 34 times in 35 games this season, averaging 23.5 minutes per game, after starting 11 times in 34 games as a freshman, averaging 15.5 minutes. Okpara shot 58.6% from the field in his 70 games with the Buckeyes.
Tennessee currently has three open scholarship spots after adding Dubar, Okpara and Milicic.
The Vols lost four players through the NCAA Transfer Portal: Junior center Jonas Aidoo, sophomore forward Tobe Awaka and redshirt freshmen Freddie Dilione and DJ Jefferson.
Tennessee, while adding Dubar, Okpara, Milicic and freshman point guard Bishop Boswell, is currently scheduled to return six scholarship players: Juniors Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey and freshmen JP Estrella, Cam Carr and Cade Phillips.
