Rick Barnes turned to JP Estrella in the biggest minutes of the season for Tennessee basketball.
The freshman forward held his own against Purdue and National Player of the Year Zach Edey and left Barnes with a lasting impression of what Estrella could be during his career.
“I’m sitting here thinking maybe we should try to use him like Zach Edey because he showed off his physicality,” Barnes said on March 31. “We thought that about him. I don’t think he ever thought of himself as that kind of player.
Estrella stepped into the spotlight during Tennessee’s season-ending loss. He’s even more there now after putting the idea in Estrella’s head of Barnes being able to be a dominant post player.
The second-year forward is poised to play a major role for the Vols next season — and it’s an even bigger role after Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka entered the transfer portal.
What JP Estrella Proved During Tennessee Basketball vs. Purdue
Estrella played 12 minutes against Norfolk State on January 2. It was the only time he played double-digit minutes until he played a season-high 15 against Purdue in the Elite Eight.
Barnes called on Estrella early in the second half, with Aidoo ineffective and Awaka struggling with foul trouble. The freshman played nearly nine straight minutes, which he capped with an alley-oop dunk that tied the game with less than six minutes to play.
He walked toward the bench with a stern expression as he checked with 5:14 to play.
“Whatever coach wants me to do, I feel like I’m going to be able to accomplish it and just get the job done,” Estrella said in mid-March.
That’s what the 6-foot-11 Estrella did against 7-4 Edey, who averaged 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-11 Estrella was Tennessee’s best bet against Edey. He later said his goal was to stop Edey as best he could. He focused on boxing out and rebounding as best he could.
He played 12 minutes in the second half, tying his record from the previous season and giving Tennessee a chance to make its first Final Four in program history.
How JP Estrella’s role has changed with Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka in the transfer portal
Estrella had positioned himself for a big role as a sophomore before his efforts against Purdue. He showed his high potential against Florida in January and against Saint Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
He called these games “high-ceiling games” in which he played well offensively and defensively.
“Personally, with myself and my confidence,” Estrella said, “I feel like going into next year it’s going to be a huge factor for me because I know I’m going to get a lot better over the course of the summer and I know I’m going to be the best basketball player I can be.
Estrella’s role became even more important with the transfer decisions of Aidoo and Awaka. The two veteran forwards have dominated minutes up front this season ahead of Estrella and classmate Cade Phillips. Awaka could still return, Barnes said, while Tennessee could also choose to pursue a veteran at the position.
As it stands, Estrella is the first returning player and should be counted on to contribute meaningful minutes.
Estrella signed with UT as a four-star recruit and the No. 61 prospect nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He brings as much offensive upside as any forward UT has recruited under Barnes. That’s part of what makes his future exciting after a small role as a freshman. He played in 25 games and averaged 5.0 minutes per game.
To get there, he will have to rely on the confidence he found in two games and then proved against Purdue. He certainly had some lulls during the season when he wasn’t contributing. He has learned that he must rely on himself to build his confidence and continue learning.
Tennessee will count on that.
“I think going forward, he definitely understands what it’s about,” Barnes said.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will give you access to the entire thing.