Former Maryland Point Guard Ja’kobi Gillespie announced Friday that he will join the Tennessee program.
It marks a homecoming for Gillespie, who is native in Greenville, Tenn., Located about 70 miles east of Tennessee Campus in Knoxville.
Gillespie’s announcements on social media included “I’m coming home” with a photo of itself that carries a voluntary uniform.
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– Ja’kobi Gillespie ???? (@k0b1g) April 4 2025
Tennessee, which reached the elite eight each of the last two years, had a need for a transfer point to replace the degree Zakai Zeigler, the school’s leader for all the time with 747 career assistants.
Gillespie also viewed Villanova – the school that just hired Kevin Willard away from Maryland. He entered the transfer portal on Monday.
“I just feel it was a no-brainer for me,” Gillespie told Rocky Top Insider. “To just be in this situation, I didn’t even think I would leave in a month, then leave my coach and, Boom, Tennessee is in the picture.
“When I thought about it – I thought of Villanova and Tennessee. I was just thinking about it and Tennessee, every time I thought about it I was excited and was just ready to go. It was a bit for me to decide.”
Gillespie was an average of 14.7 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 returns in 36 matches this season for a Maryland squad that reached Sweet 16. He knocked down 87 3 points and racked 69 steals.
Gillespie spent his first two seasons at Belmont, located in Nashville, before transferring to Maryland.
During three college seasons, Gillespie has an average of 13.6 points, 4.2 assists and 2.8 returns in 93 matches (68 starts). He has 173 steals and 151 3-point baskets.
-Field level media
