Juke Harris has already started stacking preseason hardware before he’s played a game for Tennessee.
On Thursday morning, the SEC office named Harris a Preseason Second Team All-SEC selection, giving the Volunteers guard his second preseason all-conference honor. That vote came from the league’s 16 head coaches. Earlier, the media had pegged Harris as a Preseason First Team All-SEC pick.
Harris has been busy elsewhere on the preseason awards circuit, too. On Wednesday, he landed on the Julius Erving Award Top 20 Preseason Watch List, and he also picked up Blue Ribbon Yearbook Preseason Third Team All-America recognition.
The coaches’ list included four first-year transfers: Harris, Kentucky’s Milan Momcilovic, Texas A&M’s P.J. Haggerty and Texas’ David Punch.
Tennessee is getting a player coming off a huge year at Wake Forest. Harris, a junior guard from Salisbury, N.C., averaged 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 35.1 minutes per game last season.
His résumé from that run is loaded. Harris earned Second Team All-ACC honors, ACC Most Improved Player recognition and NABC First Team All-South Atlantic District honors in 2025-26. He also became the 30th player - in the 32nd occurrence - in ACC history to score 750 points in a single season, and he was just the second Demon Deacon to do it.
At 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, Harris brought consistent scoring every night. He reached double figures in all 35 games, which tied for the co-third-highest total in Division I, and he scored 20 or more points in 20 games, tied for No. 11 nationally.
His first regular season game in a Tennessee uniform comes Nov. 3 at 6 p.m., when the Volunteers host Wofford at Food City Center on SEC Network.
Preseason First Team All-SEC: Amari Allen, Alabama; Rueben Chinyelu, Florida; Thomas Haugh, Florida; Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State; Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt.
Preseason Second Team All-SEC: Alex Condon, Florida; Juke Harris, Tennessee; Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky; Jordan Smith Jr., Arkansas; Matas Vokietaitis, Texas.
Preseason Third Team All-SEC: P.J. Haggerty, Texas A&M; Malachi Moreno, Kentucky; Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn; David Punch, Texas; Billy Richmond III, Arkansas; Thomas Haugh, Florida.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Entered A Recruiting Battle Vols Fans Will Notice
Jayshawn Mitchell has become one of the more intriguing running back names on Tennessees board, and the Volunteers are in the mix after extending a recent offer to the San Antonio standout. The William J. Brennan High School prospect has trimmed his recruitment to 15 schools, and Tennessee is suddenly part of a battle that should matter to fans keeping an eye on the next wave of backfield talent in Knoxville.
Mitchells rsum already gives plenty of programs a reason to keep coming back, and he has taken visits to several schools on his list as the process continues to tighten. Tennessee, meanwhile, has already landed commitments from other top running back targets and is still active on multiple high-profile fronts, which only adds to the sense that this race is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Have One Big DeSean Bishop Concern Right Now
The Heisman Trophy sites early Heisman Hopefuls fan vote has given Tennessee plenty of reason to look twice at its roster, with seven Vols showing up among the top five in their positional groups. DeSean Bishop is sitting at the top of the running backs vote, a nod to the buzz he has built heading into the 2026 college football season and another sign that Tennessee fans are already keeping a close eye on his role.
The bigger concern, though, is his health after a recent injury. Josh Heupel said Bishop is expected to be in good condition for the upcoming game, which should ease some of the immediate worry in Knoxville, but it also adds a little suspense to a situation fans are monitoring closely as Tennessee continues sorting out its early-season outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes Just Framed Tennessees Biggest Opener Question
Terrence Hill Jr.s ankle injury has been the biggest thing hanging over Tennessee basketball since the exhibition at Duke, but there is at least some reason for optimism heading into the season opener. Rick Barnes said the point guard is expected to resume practice and could be in line to play against Wofford, which would be a welcome development for a team that has already seen how much Hill can matter when hes on the floor.
Hill arrived from VCU for his first season in Knoxville and had already emerged as a leading scorer in the exhibitions before the injury slowed him down. For Tennessee, the question now is less about his talent and more about how quickly he can get back into full rhythm after the recovery process, with the opener approaching and Barnes still managing the situation carefully. [Read more 🡒]