Ja'Kobi Gillespie - College Basketball News & Rumors

Gillespie scores 21, Tennessee beats Georgia 86-85 in OT for coach Rick Barnes' 850th career win

5 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Goes for 24 points Gillespie ended Saturday's 79-73 win over Alabama with 24 points (8-20 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 6-8 FT), three rebounds, four assists and two steals in 38 minutes.

Impact Gillespie has back-to-back 24-points games. Through six conference games, he is averaging 21.0 points on 41.4 percent from the field with 4.8 assists and 2.8 steals. The Volunteers have yet to get consecutive wins, but will try against on Tuesday at Georgia.

JANUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Tennessee visits No. 17 Alabama after Philon's 23-point performance

No. 17 Alabama hosts the Tennessee Volunteers after Labaron Philon scored 23 points in Alabama's 83-81 win over the Oklahoma Sooners

JANUARY 23 • Associated Press

Kentucky completes another second-half comeback to stun No. 24 Tennessee, 80-78

Denzel Aberdeen scored 22 points, 18 in the second half, and Kentucky rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to knock off No. 24 Tennessee, 80-78

JANUARY 17 • Associated Press

Scores 24, deals out eight assists Gillespie logged 24 points (6-12 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 8-12 FT), two rebounds, eight assists and two steals over 32 minutes during Saturday's 80-78 loss to Kentucky.

Impact Gillespie tied his season high in assists during his eighth 20-point game. The guard had only hit 27.6 percent of his field goals in his two previous games, but bounced with a solid offensive performance as the Volunteers fell to 2-2 in conference. The 6-1 senior has hit multiple 3-pointers in nine straight games.

JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Scores 18, nabs six steals Gillespie logged 18 points (5-19 FG, 2-11 3Pt, 6-8 FT), four rebounds, five assists and six steals over 48 minutes before fouling out of Tuesday's 87-82 2OT win over Texas A&M.

Impact Gillespie equaled his worst shooting game of the season and has hit just 8-of-29 (27.6 percent) in his last two games. The guard has scored at least 12 points in his last eight games and has continued to facilitate the offense with 5.5 dimes in that span. Gillespie also has 13 steals in his last four games. He will contribute, even when his shot isn't falling.

JANUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Boogie Fland delivers his best game at Florida and leads the way against No. 21 Tennessee, 91-67

Boogie Fland scored a season-high 23, Rueben Chinyelu dominated the paint and Florida handled No. 21 Tennessee 91-67 to extend its home winning streak to 15

JANUARY 10 • Associated Press

Explodes for 34 points Gillespie recorded a career-high 34 points (12-18 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 5-5 FT), four rebounds, five assists and three steals across 37 minutes during Tuesday's 85-71 win over Texas.

Impact Gillespie had his second 30-point game of the season and is averaging 18.7 points (fifth in the SEC). He has scored at least 14 points in his last six games and has hit multiple 3-pointers in each of those contests. The 6-1 senior is converting 36.4 percent of his 3-pointers on 7.9 long-range attempts. Tennessee takes on Florida on Saturday. The Gators ended up Gillespie's 2024-25 season in the NCAA Tournament, when the guard was with Maryland. He had 17 points before fouling out.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

No. 18 Arkansas hosts Gillespie and No. 19 Tennessee

No. 19 Tennessee plays the No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks after Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 21 points in the Volunteers' 105-54 win against the South Carolina State Bulldogs

JANUARY 2 • Associated Press

Scores team-high 23 Gillespie posted 23 points (5-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 10-10 FT), three rebounds and five assists across 34 minutes during Tuesday's 83-62 victory over Louisville.

Impact Gillespie had his fifth 20-point game and first since Nov. 25. He has taken at least six 3-pointers in all but one game and is converting 34.5 percent of his long-range shots on his way to a team-leading 17.8 points. The Maryland transfer has no fewer than four assists in every game and is averaging 5.4 dimes.

DECEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Scores team-high 15 Gillespie chipped in 15 points (6-20 FG, 3-9 3Pt), five rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes during Saturday's 75-62 loss to Illinois.

Impact Gillespie was the only Volunteer who scored in double digits as the team was held below 65 points for the second straight game. The 6-1 senior has been getting by on volume. In his last four games, he has converted just 31.3 percent of his field goals and 27.3 percent of his 3-pointers. Gillespie has scored in double digits in all of those games, but Tennessee will need him to make more shots to snap their three-game losing streak against Louisville on Tuesday.

DECEMBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

William Kyle III makes a late go-ahead free throw and Syracuse takes down No. 13 Tennessee 62-60

Freshman Nate Kingz scored a career-high 19 points, William Kyle III made a go-ahead free throw with 13.8 seconds left, and Syracuse held off No. 13 Tennessee 62-60

DECEMBER 3, 2025 • Associated Press

Deals out seven assists Gillespie posted 10 points (5-12 FG, 0-3 3Pt), two rebounds, seven assists, one block and two steals over 32 minutes during Tuesday's 62-60 loss to Syracuse.

Impact Gillespie has scored in double digits in eight straight games, but has only averaged 10.5 points and hit 1-of-13 3-pointers in his last two games. The 6-1 senior has not attempted a free throw in either game. On the plus side, Gillespie has dealt at least four assists in every game and is leading the Volunteers with 5.4 assists per game.

DECEMBER 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Powers Vols with 22 points Gillespie registered 22 points (5-16 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 9-9 FT), two rebounds, four assists and one steal over 38 minutes during Tuesday's 76-73 victory over Houston.

Impact The Volunteers were able to avenge last year's Elite Eight loss. Gillespie continued on his scoring spree and now has six straight games of 17 points or more. He struggled from the field against the Cougars, but made up for with his best performance from the free throw line. The senior guard is averaging 19.6 points to lead Tennessee.

NOVEMBER 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Kobi Gillespie scores 32 points, No. 20 Tennessee beats Rutgers 85-60 at Players Era

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 32 point and Nate Ament added 20 to help No. 20 Tennessee defeat Rutgers 85-60 in the first day of play at the Players Era tournament

NOVEMBER 24, 2025 • Associated Press

Scores career-high 32 points Gillespie finished Monday's 85-60 victory over Rutgers with 32 points (11-20 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 4-5 FT), three rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals across 29 minutes.

Impact Gillespie has been "a bucket" over his career. He averaged 14.7 points with Maryland last season and looks poised to beat that in his senior season with Volunteers. He has scored at least 17 points in his last five games and has 18 3-pointers over that span. Top-ranked Houston will look to slow the 6-1 senior.

NOVEMBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Excels as scorer and distributor Gillespie notched 17 points (6-12 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-4 FT), four rebounds, eight assists, one block and one steal in 33 minutes during Monday's 91-66 win over Rice.

Impact Gillespie continues to be one of the most impactful performers for the Vols despite sharing the stage with five-star freshman Nate Ament. Through four games, he's averaging a career-best 6.3 apg and has attempted double-digit shots in each. After a Thursday matchup against Tennessee State, however, the level of competition will rise, as Tennessee begins a stretch against power-conference opponents that starts with Rutgers, Houston and Syracuse.

NOVEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

20-point performance in blowout win Gillespie closed Saturday's 95-56 win over Northern Kentucky with 20 points (8-14 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 0-1 FT), three rebounds, four assists and one steal in 27 minutes.

Impact Gillespie rebounded from a sub-par eight points in the Volunteers' opener against Mercer with an impressive showing over Norfolk State. The senior guard finished the blowout second in points for Tennessee, and he was also on the court more than any of his teammates. He could be primed for another high-volume outing against another smaller market squad against North Florida this upcoming Wednesday.

NOVEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Scores team-high 19 Gillespie led the Volunteers with 19 points (5-21 FG, 3-13 3Pt, 6-6 FT) and eight assists in the exhibition loss to Duke on Sunday.

Impact The 6-1 senior transferred from Maryland where he averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 assists in 2024-25. Perhaps we can credit the Duke defense for making things difficult on Gillespie as his efficiency in the exhibition left something to be desired. He hit 40.7 percent of his 3-pointers last season, so he is unlikely to continue to shoot poorly from the perimeter.

OCTOBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Kobi Gillespie discusses why he transferred to Tennessee Tennessee basketball guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie details why he transferred to the Vols at SEC media days.

OCTOBER 16, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

Why Ja'Kobi Gillespie is Tennessee's most important team transfer for 2025-26 The final chapter of Rick Barnes’ coaching career has been quite the story over this last decade at Tennessee and these last few seasons hav...

JULY 14, 2025 • BUSTINGBRACKETS.COM

Clear path to PG job Gillespie is in line to serve as Tennessee's starting point guard in 2025-26, as Zakai Zeigler's preliminary injunction to seek a fifth season of eligibility was denied by a Tennes...

Impact Zeigler's case was considered a long shot after appearing in 138 games across four seasons at Tennessee, and though he may attempt to appeal, the point guard job appears to be Gillespie's as of mid-June. This is likely what Gillespie was planning on and influenced his decision to come to Tennessee for his final year of eligibility. Gillespie put up 14.7 ppg and 4.8 apg last season with the Terps, but those numbers may be tough to replicate with Tennessee playing at a significantly reduced tempo than Maryland, even if Gillespie has the job to himself.

JUNE 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Tennessee adds portal transfer from in-state rival Vandy with Jaylen Carey

The Tennessee Volunteers have added forward Jaylen Carey from Vanderbilt through the transfer portal for their second new player in as many days

APRIL 8, 2025 • Associated Press

Maryland losses in the portal continue in the weeks following Sweet 16

The Maryland exodus highlighted by coach Kevin Willard leaving his Sweet 16 program for Villanova has trickled down to the roster

APRIL 7, 2025 • Associated Press

Picks Vols Gillespie will transfer to Tennessee, Joe Tipton of On3.com reports.

Impact Gillespie is coming off an excellent season in his lone year with Maryland, averaging 14.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals. With one year of eligibility remaining, he'll take his talents to Rocky Top, where he should be in line to be the Volunteers' starting point guard.

APRIL 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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