Chris Washington Jr. didn’t waste much time explaining why Tennessee felt right. When the freshman forward met with local media this week for his first press conference since committing and signing with the Vols in the spring, he made it clear the decision came down to fit for him and his family.
“Honestly, I just felt like that for me and my family, that was just the best decision for me. And I found my right school, I feel like.”
Washington has already spent a month around the program, and he said that stretch has been about learning, adjusting and getting better every day. He pointed to the help he’s received from DeWayne Brown and the rest of the group as a major part of that early transition.
“Like I said, me and the guys, we came a long way just from this first month, you know, getting help from DeWayne, and the team, it’s just been a blessing.”
For Washington, the focus right now is simple: keep stacking days. He said Rick Barnes has been pushing him hard, and the biggest emphasis has been on the defensive end.
“Honestly, just getting better day by day. Coach Barnes, he’s coaching me hard. So honestly, just stacking days, just getting better day by day.”
“My defense. The whole country know I can score the ball, so just me, just working on my rotations, being right in the gaps. Defense.”
He also revealed where Tennessee has been using him this summer.
“Right now, they got me playing four.”
Washington said Tennessee’s track record with player development played a big role in his decision, especially with his goal of reaching the pros.
“I mean, honestly, just the track record of like guys he did put in the league, you know what I’m saying? I want to be pro, so like I said, I came to Tennessee, I felt like they’re gonna get me there, he’s gonna get me there.”
He credited Brown and Kenbell (Duncan Campball) as the main voices helping him settle in, and he said Brown has been especially valuable when things get messy in practice.
“My boy DeWayne and my boy Kenbell (Duncan Campball), them two. They’ve been kind of really helping me.”
“I be in practice sometimes, I’ll get lost and he’ll kind of just help me a little bit. I mean, honestly, him just guiding us when we mess up.”
The freshman also talked about the bond forming with the rest of Tennessee’s first-year group - Manny Green, Ralph Scott and Marquis Clark. He said he didn’t know them from the AAU circuit, which has made being teammates now feel even better.
“It’s been a great relationship. I didn’t play those guys on the circuit, so for us to be all on the same team, it’s a good thing.”
Washington added that playing AAU basketball in Knoxville was another positive in the process.
“It’s great, you know? It’s just amazing, honestly. I’m just glad to be here.”
And he’s enjoying the look, too.
“I’m loving it. We’re in Adidas gear. I’m liking it, I’m loving it.”
On the floor, Washington described his offensive game as built around attacking the rim, finding his spots and shooting it when it’s there.
“I’d say getting to the rim, getting to my spots, and my (ability) to catch and shoot.”
“Really just getting to the mid-range, getting down hill.”
He said watching last year’s Tennessee players get drafted only reinforced his belief that his own turn will come.
“Coach Barnes, him getting those guys there, I know my time’s gonna come.”
As for the freshman class as a whole, Washington didn’t hold back.
“Oh, we got the best class, I feel like, honestly. We got a good class.”
Why?
“Shoot, we all can score, honestly. (Barnes) recruited a lot of scores this year. Even our freshman class, we can all get a bucket.”
In Other News...
Tennessees Adidas Rollout Just Teased The Reveal Vols Fans Want Most
Tennessees new adidas rollout has already given fans a first look at fresh looks across multiple sports, and the football side of it came with the kind of detail that tends to matter most in Knoxville. The unveiled sets lean into orange, white and Dark Mode designs, with the return of orange pants showing up in a post featuring Edwin Spillman, a nod to a look plenty of Vols supporters have wanted back in the mix.
Josh Heupel has sounded upbeat about the partnership, and the rollout has only added to the sense that this is the start of something bigger rather than a one-off reveal. Tennessee has also hinted there is more to come, which has naturally sent fans scanning every graphic and color block for clues about what adidas and the Vols plan to show next. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Freshman Phenom Just Added Intrigue To The Quarterback Battle
Tennessees official 2026 roster update offered a small but telling snapshot of where the quarterback room stands heading into fall camp. Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre has added more bulk and is now listed at 208 pounds, while true freshman Faizon Brandon is already carrying 225 pounds as the Vols continue sorting out their next move under center.
Brandon also said he feels comfortable with the playbook and that the offense is starting to slow down for him, a promising sign for a young quarterback trying to make a quick impression. With roster numbers and body types now public, the real intrigue shifts to how quickly that comfort translates once the competition gets into full camp work. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former Vols Just Made Tennessee's NBA Pipeline Look Stronger
Six former Tennessee basketball players were in action in Las Vegas during NBA Summer League, another reminder that the Vols have become a steady source of pro talent. For a program that has spent years building a reputation for toughness, depth and player development, seeing multiple ex-Vols scattered across rosters and getting real run on summer stages is the sort of thing that keeps the pipeline conversation alive.
The most eye-catching performances came from Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Tyreke Key, who both found ways to stand out in recent games and give Tennessee fans something to track beyond the box score. Zakai Zeigler also got his turn, and with more Summer League matchups still on the schedule, there is a little more room for the former Vols to keep making their case before the action shifts again. [Read more 🡒]