Would Tennessee basketball welcome Tobe Awaka back? Rick Barnes explains

Rick Barnes is open to Tobe Awaka rejoining Tennessee basketball after entering the transfer portal, the Vols coach said Thursday.

Awaka has yet to make a final decision on his future after entering the portal on April 9. But the possibility to return exists for Awaka although Tennessee won't be waiting around on the rising junior forward to decide.

“Obviously, we all respect him and love him for what he did for us,” Barnes said. “But if he feels he’s got to go through the process, he needs to do it. With that said, we’re not waiting, because we’re going to move forward and build this roster as quickly as we can.”

Awaka averaged 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game this past season. He is one of four Tennessee players to enter the portal along with forward Jonas Aidoo and guards Freddie Dilione V and D.J. Jefferson.

How Rick Barnes views a player returning from transfer portal

The door is open for Awaka to return to Tennessee, but that isn't Barnes' blanket view of taking a player back from the portal.

How a player goes about entering the portal and leaving dictates how Barnes feels about a player wanting to come back to UT.

"It’s based on how it happened and based on how I know things happen,” Barnes said. “You’re always flexible, open to it. But some cases, yes, some cases not.”

Tennessee has not taken a player back out of the portal previously under Barnes. He stressed that the Vols all respected Awaka during his time at UT and that has not changed.

"Sometimes, in a rush in the moment people can listen to people and realize that maybe they maybe should have waited and thought it all out a bit more," Barnes said.

Tobe Awaka is one of four Tennessee basketball players in the portal

Awaka averaged 4.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game in two seasons at Tennessee.

Awaka averaged 3.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a freshman. He signed prior to the 2022-23 season, choosing the Vols over Maryland, Pittsburgh, St. John’s and others. He played at Cardinal Hayes High in New York and he played in the same AAU program as UT point guard Zakai Zeigler.

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"This decision was extremely difficult to make, however, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal," Awaka wrote on Instagram about his decision. "Thank you Vol nation, I will always love Tennessee.”

Tennessee has five open scholarships after the commitment of Hofstra transfer guard Darlinstone Dubar. It has not added a player in the post after Aidoo and Awaka entered the portal, leaving a gap as the top two forwards from last season entered the portal.

The Vols have rising sophomore J.P. Estrella and Cade Phillips at forward.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.