Julian Phillips Stays In NBA Draft, Analyzing The Move

Former Tennessee Volunteers forward Julian Phillips entered the 2023 NBA Draft after initially entering the NCAA transfer portal and weighing his options in the predraft process.
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On what many were calling "decision day" for college basketball and the NBA Draft, former Tennessee Volunteer Julian Phillips opted to stay in the 2023 NBA Draft. Phillips had entered his name into the transfer portal as an option that became secondary as the draft process continued.

Phillips had a solid season in a Tennessee system that fit him perfectly. He was able to showcase his length, athleticism, and physicality both on the perimeter and in the post. He proved to be not just one of Tennessee's best defenders but one of the best defenders in all of college basketball. While Phillips should be an excellent defender in the NBA that plays consistently in a rotation, if Phillips had come back and transferred, his ceiling could've been even higher. At 6'8 with his length, if Phillips had come back and shown more of an ability on the offensive end as a slasher, his stock for next year would've gone through the roof. Most people who follow recruiting, including me, understand that this incoming freshman class is one of the worst in recent memory. With how good the 2022 freshman class was, Phillips would've been prioritized over a ton of early entrants next summer. Even if his offensive game didn't improve as much as people hoped, his defensive floor would've been much more appealing in a weaker draft class.

Obviously, Tennessee was out of the running, and it was either draft or portal for Phillips, but if he had found a place in the portal that offered him a good amount of NIL money and had a coach that he trusted to be able to develop, that seems like it would've been a more ideal scenario than the uncertainty that this year's draft provides. It's also not like Phillips wouldn't have been highly pursued in the portal, as his age and star ranking alone is enough to make him a coveted transfer. At this point, it wouldn't be surprising to see Phillips land somewhere early in the second round, as he could come in right away and make an impact. His decision marks the third straight year that the Vols have produced a one-and-done player.

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