Terrence Hill Jr. didn’t waste much time showing what Tennessee is getting in its new guard: a player who understands the assignment, knows the expectations and is already thinking about how to fit into Rick Barnes’ system.
Hill met with the Knoxville media for the first time since arriving in town, and the 6-foot-3 guard spent much of the conversation talking about growth, pace and the kind of backcourt Tennessee is trying to build. He averaged 15 points and 2.8 assists per game at VCU and helped push the Rams to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
For Hill, the move to Tennessee is about handling a bigger stage without losing the habits that got him here.
“I would say just trusting in the process, like I always have been. Just take advantage of every opportunity that I get. Now it’s a bigger opportunity here at Tennessee, so just staying in the moment and just trusting the process with my work.”
That mindset showed up again and again as he talked through summer workouts. Hill said the first month and a half of practice has stood out because of the way Tennessee can line up so many different types of players and because of how quickly the group has started to click.
“I would just say the versatility of our team. We have a lot of different guys that can do a lot of different things, especially on the offensive side.
But then just our chemistry over a short period of time has really surprised me. Just everybody willing to buy into what coach is saying, all the coaches is saying just very impressive to me.”
The guard competition has also been a feature, not a bug. Hill said the battle among Tennessee’s guards is pushing everyone forward.
“Just competing against those other guys, the other guards on the team, making sure we get each other better - it’s a big advantage for sure, just having different guards do different things.”
He pointed to his early connection with Dai Dai Ames as a good starting point for the backcourt.
“Great, man. I feel like me and Dai Dai (Ames) have been doing a great job to start it off, to lead the lead the team for sure. I feel like the chemistry is gonna come over time, but just building that bond early is very special.”
Hill also made clear that he’s aware of the recent standard Tennessee has set at point guard. When asked about Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Zakai Zeigler’s ability to score in the role, Hill said he had watched them closely and even had a moment during last year’s tournament where he pictured himself in that spot.
“Yeah, I definitely watched those guys a lot. Just coming here, coming on my visit, it was funny because last year I was watching the tournament when Tennessee played - I think one of the Sweet Sixteen games - I was like, ‘Ja’Kobi is going crazy.
That could be me out there.’ I was talking to my agent.
They were just letting him rock and stuff like that, so that was good to see.
“But yeah, I feel like I bring a different feel to our team for sure with the scoring and passing ability. Just all the weapons on our team, I think we’ll be able to distribute as well.”
Adjusting to Barnes’ practices, Hill said, has been straightforward enough because he expected the intensity. Still, he noticed the difference right away.
“For me, it didn’t take too long. I knew he was a high-intense coach.
Maybe for others, it took a little longer, but you kind of just get used to it over time, especially if you want to get better. You know everything he’s saying is just out of love for you to get better.”
He described Barnes’ style as demanding from the start and focused on the details.
“It’s different for sure. I feel like he’s more intense from the jump.
He’s more locked in on the small details than anything else. He just wants us to be as best as we can every rep.
So, just seeing that, his intensity, is just very impactful to me.”
Hill said he’s also checked in with former Tennessee guards about what the early stages of Barnes’ point guard experience can look like.
“Yeah, a little bit. I talked to Ja’Kobi a little bit.
Zakai, when he was here. They were just telling me, you know, just trust the process.
Like he’s gonna be on you the most because you’re the point guard. So you got to be reflective of him.
So yeah, just them giving me that insight was very helpful.”
Barnes, Hill said, has been pushing two things in particular: speed and leadership.
“My speed. Obviously, I play at a different type of pace, but he just wants me to pick up my pace more, get the team going.
Me using my voice more, just taking on that leader role. Yeah, I would just say speed and leadership.”
Hill also explained the switch back to No. 3. It’s a number he wore for most of his life, though he had to change to No. 6 at VCU when three was unavailable.
“So I wore three basically my whole life, my whole high school career, and then when I went to VCU, three was taken, so had to go to six. But now I feel like I’m back in my roots.”
The conversation wasn’t only about Hill. He also had praise for freshman wing Ralph Scott, who has already had a wake-up call in college basketball.
“Ralph is good, man. I feel like he had a welcome to college moment pretty early, when we were doing some drills.
He was getting tired and stuff, but I could see the potential in him for sure. Just how hard he works.
Like we’ll go a long day, and he’ll still come in the gym and get some shots up after everybody. That just shows his maturity.
I think he’s gonna have a great season for sure.”
And for Tennessee’s younger players, Hill’s message was simple: stay steady.
“Really just trusting the process, always believing in yourself, whether you’re the third guy on the depth chart or you’re the first guy that’s scoring all the points. Just really trust the process because basketball is an up and down slope with everything you do. So just trusting the process, trusting your work, and never forget what you came from.”
Hill said he’s also spending more time off the ball than he did before, a change that should fit Tennessee’s personnel.
“More so than I did before, especially, I felt like guys are gonna kind of guard me different this year with the resume I had coming in from last year. So, just being able, like I said, to play with Dai Dai (Ames), Juke (Harris) and those guys - Jalen (Haralson) - for them to handle the ball is gonna make it a lot easier for all of us.”
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