The one thing that's currently holding Juke Harris back from being a first-round pick is exactly what Rick Barnes and the Vols do best

Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris is hoping to improve his draft stock this upcoming season after joining the Tennessee Volunteers basketball program.
Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris joined the Tennessee Vols as a portal addition earlier this spring after deciding not to enter the 2026 NBA Draft.
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Harris was viewed as a fringe first-round pick — those players usually fall to the second round (as we saw with North Carolina’s Henri Veesaar) — and that influenced his decision to pass on the draft and head to Knoxville.
The Salisbury, NC native will enter the 2026-27 season as a prospect who is projected as a second round pick. Harris hopes to improve his draft stock during his lone season at Tennessee.
Harris is obviously an elite scorer after averaging 21.4 points per game in the ACC last season.
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The biggest thing holding him back from being a first-round pick is the perception of his defense.
“Harris was an NBA Draft Combine invitee who withdrew before the event started,” noted The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie this week. “He was a monster scorer this year at Wake Forest, and the key for him at Tennessee will be to round out the rest of his game, including his defensive play and passing vision.”
Defense and toughness, of course, are Vols head coach Rick Barnes’ calling card. It’s an area where Nate Ament, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, made big jumps during his one season on Rocky Top.
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“Seeing how he’s progressed the last three years, and going with Rick Barnes, it really toughened him up,” said an NBA assistant coach about Ament earlier this month. “And playing in the SEC, I think it was one of the best moves he could have ever made. I questioned his toughness coming out of high school. That changed a lot this year at Tennessee, playing in the SEC. It’s a tough league. It’s fouling. You have to be tough in this league, or you can’t play. He took a huge jump in his physicality.”
“Ament didn’t have to go play for Rick Barnes,” added an NBA scout. “He elected to take the Rick Barnes a- whipping. Rick is old school… If you’re in a scrimmage with Rick Barnes, and you turn the ball over, sub yourself out and give me 45 (seconds) on the VersaClimber. I don’t care if it’s Nate Ament or Ja’Kobi Gillespie. Forty-five on the VersaClimber, to remind you: we don’t turn the f-ing ball over.”
Harris can expect to receive the same experience at Tennessee, and it will help him erase the biggest questions about his draft profile, which in turn should lead to Harris being a first-round pick next summer.
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The transfer guard was a necessary addition to help the Vols get to a Final Four, and landing at Tennessee was necessary for Harris to improve his draft stock.
It’s a win-win for both sides.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: The one thing that’s currently holding Juke Harris back from being a first-round pick is exactly what Rick Barnes and the Vols do best
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The one thing that&#39;s currently holding Juke Harris back from being a first-round pick is exactly what Rick Barnes and the Vols do best

The one thing that's currently holding Juke Harris back from being a first-round pick is exactly what Rick Barnes and the Vols do best