Knecht’s Rising Stars Selection Heads Jan. 30 Vols in the Pros Update

The NBA season is approaching the All-Star break and VFL Dalton Knecht garnered a Rising Stars Challenge invitation, becoming the first University of Tennessee alumnus to do so. The game, a part of NBA All-Star Weekend, is set for Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.
 
The latest update of Vols in the pros, including those in the EuroLeague and EuroCup, can be found below.
 
Information aided by Eurobasket LLC.

VOLS IN THE NBA

Tobias Harris | Detroit Pistons | at Tennessee 2010-11
45 GP, 45 GS, 12.7 PPG, 32 MPG, 44.0 FG%, 33.5 3FG%, 6.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG
The longest-tenured VFL in the NBA, Harris is in the midst of his 14th season and is averaging 12-plus points per game for the 12th year in a row. The veteran presence, who has appeared in all but two games, has helped Detroit meet or exceed its win total in each of the last five seasons, through just 47 contests. Harris has scored 16-plus points on 15 occasions this year, as well as recorded four double-doubles.

Keon Johnson | Brooklyn Nets | at Tennessee 2020-21

46 GP, 26 GS, 9.4 PPG, 22.5 MPG, 37.3 FG%, 29.1 3FG%, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Now in his fourth year in the NBA, Johnson is having his finest year yet as a pro. He has played in all but two games for the Nets, already setting career highs in appearances and starts. Johnson is putting up career-best averages in nearly every statistical category and owns 19 double-digit scoring totals, including five of 20-plus. He had back-to-back 20-point games earlier this month, recording 20 on 9-of-16 shooting Jan. 22 versus Phoenix and then 22 two nights later against Miami.

 

Dalton Knecht | Los Angeles Lakers | at Tennessee 2023-24

45 GP, 12 GS, 9.5 PPG, 20.9 MPG, 46.4 FG%, 36.1 3FG%, 3.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 SPG

Putting together one of the best seasons of any rookie in the NBA, Knecht has scored 18-plus points eight times for the Lakers, who sit fifth in the Western Conference. In his last outing, Jan. 28 at Philadelphia, Knecht tallied 24 points, his third-most of the year. His season-best point total of 37 came Nov. 19 against Utah, a performance in which he went 9-of-12 from deep to tie the NBA rookie record for 3-pointers.

 

Julian Phillips | Chicago Bulls | at Tennessee 2022-23

47 GP, 3 GS, 4.4 PPG, 13.2 MPG, 43.8 FG%, 2.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.2 BPG

A second-year pro, Phillips has played in all but one game this season for the Bulls, already exceeding his total of 40 outings as a rookie. He has scored 10 points four times in 2024-25, as well as pulled down five-plus rebounds on five occasions. His most recent 10-point showing came Jan. 15 versus Atlanta on a 4-of-5 field-goal clip.

 

Josh Richardson | Miami Heat | at Tennessee 2011-15

8 GP, 4 PPG, 18.6 MPG, 28.9 FG%, 27.3 3FG%, 1.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG

A 10th-year NBA veteran, Richardson is in his sixth campaign with the Miami Heat, including the second of his second stint. However, he has not played since Nov. 18 due to a right heel injury. Before that, Richardson appeared in eight of the first 13 games of the year.

 

Jaden Springer | Boston Celtics | at Tennessee 2020-21

24 GP, 1.9 PPG, 5.6 MPG, 37.5 FG%, 1.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.5 SPG

A reigning NBA champion, Springer has helped the Celtics to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference this year. The fourth-year veteran has played in half the team’s games, including each of the past five, and logged his top two scoring performances within the past eight days. Springer had eight points in a season-high 20 minutes Jan. 22 and then scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in nine minutes the next night, both in Los Angeles, respectively against the Clippers and Lakers.

 

Grant Williams | Charlotte Hornets | at Tennessee 2016-19

16 GP, 7 GS, 10.4 PPG, 29.9 MPG, 43.9 FG%, 5.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Competing for his hometown team, Williams had 12-plus points six times in a nine-game stretch in November, before suffering a season-ending injury. The two-time SEC Player of the Year has not played since Nov. 23 after tearing ligaments in his right knee.

VOLS IN THE NBA G LEAGUE

Stats include regular season and Tip-Off Tournament
 
Jordan Bowden | College Park SkyHawks | at Tennessee 2016-20
29 GP, 12.6 PPG, 29.7 MPG, 38.6 FG%, 29.8 3FG%, 3.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG
A fifth-year pro, Bowden is averaging 13-plus points in the G League for the third consecutive season. In his second campaign with the SkyHawks, Bowden has scored 15-plus points 10 times, reaching 20 on five occasions. Just two weeks ago, Jan. 16 at Maine, Bowden dropped a season-best 31 points, shooting 10-of-17 from the floor, 5-of-10 beyond the arc and 5-of-6 at the line.
 
Kennedy Chandler | Raptors 905 | at Tennessee 2021-22
29 GP, 15.5 PPG, 26.8 MPG, 52.4 FG%, 41.9 3FG%, 2.9 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.3 SPG
Chandler, a third-year pro, is having his finest season yet, significantly improving his shooting from long range and from the field as a whole. His scoring average is also a career best, aided by 16 showings with 15-plus points, 10 with 20-plus and five with 25-plus. Chandler also has five double-digit assist outings, notching a high of 15, and a quartet of double-doubles. Arguably his top showing came Dec. 21 at San Diego when he had a season-best 27 points to go along with 10 assists, six rebounds and a steal.
 
Josiah-Jordan James | Indiana Mad Ants | at Tennessee 2019-24
29 GP, 7.0 PPG, 23.6 MPG, 46.5 FG%, 46.1 3FG%, 3.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG
After five successful seasons at Tennessee, James is in his rookie campaign as a professional and has continued to improve as the year has progressed. He owns seven double-digit point totals and six five-rebound showings, all but one of which have come since the start of December. James scored a season-high 21 points Jan. 8 at Osceola, finishing 8-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-8 on 3-pointers.
 
Tyreke Key | Raptors 905 | at Tennessee 2022-23
22 GP, 7.4 PPG, 23.4 MPG, 46.4 FG%, 42.7 3FG%, 2.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.6 SPG
Key is in his second season as a pro, but his first in the G League. He owns eight double-digit point totals thus far, reaching 17 twice. He poured in a season-best 24 points Nov. 24 against Long Island, tallying an 8-of-11 ledger from the floor, including a 6-of-9 mark beyond the arc. He also turned in season highs in both assists (nine) and steals (three) in the 130-115 victory.

VOLS OVERSEAS

Kyle Alexander | Turkey | at Tennessee 2015-19
Playing for Türk Telekom B.K., Alexander is averaging 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in domestic league play, as well as 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per outing in EuroCup action. He has scored in double figures 18 times across 31 contests in all competitions. He has seven double-digit rebounding outings, with five double-doubles, and has blocked a shot in all but four appearances.
 
Victor Bailey Jr. | Germany | at Tennessee 2019-22
Bailey is having an excellent season for Niners Chemnitz, putting up 15.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in domestic competition. He shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range with multiple makes in each of his last eight contests. Bailey has scored 14-plus points in 10 of 14 outings and reached 20 in five of them. Over the final three games of 2024 (Dec. 21 against Bonn, Dec. 27 at Bamberg and Dec. 31 versus Weissenfels), Bailey averaged 22.7 points per contest, with 20-plus in each.
 
John Fulkerson | Poland | at Tennessee 2016-22
Fulkerson started his 2024-25 campaign with Dziki Warszawa at the start of the new year and has made five appearances thus far, four in domestic action. Across all five outings, he is averaging 7.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 16-of-28 (57.1 percent) from the floor.
 
Kevin Punter Jr. | Spain | at Tennessee 2014-16
Competing for one of the best teams in international basketball, Punter is averaging 16.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game across 23 EuroLeague performances for FC Barcelona Lassa. He has scored in double figures in 19 of those contests, with 20-plus in seven of them. In domestic league play, Punter is coming off a 20-point showing in his last game, finishing 7-of-9 from the field in a Jan. 26 win at Murcia.
 
Olivier Nkamhoua | Germany | at Tennessee 2019-23
Playing alongside Bailey for Niners Chemnitz, Nkamhoua is producing 10.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 block per game in domestic league action. Across his 16 such appearances, he has scored in double figures on 10 occasions, including seven times in a row. Nkamhoua is an excellent 30-of-34 from the free-throw line, good for 88.2 percent.

ADDITIONAL PRO VOLS

• Wayne Chism (at Tennessee 2006-10) plays for Al Salam in the Saudi Arabian SBL.
• John Fields (at Tennessee 2010-11) plays for Changhua in Taiwanese SBL.
• Trae Golden (at Tennessee 2010-13) plays for Fujian Sturgeons in the Chinese CBA.
• Scotty Hopson (at Tennessee 2008-11) plays for Converge FiberXers in the Filipino PBA.
• Jordan McRae (at Tennessee 2010-14) plays for Scafati in the Italian Serie A.
• Armani Moore (at Tennessee 2012-16) plays for Stjarnan in the Icelandic Subway League.
• Uros Plavšić (at Tennessee 2019-23) plays for Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul.
• Yves Pons (at Tennessee 2017-21) plays for Basquet Girona in the Spanish Liga Endesa.
• Derek Reese (at Tennessee 2012-16) plays for Capitanes de Arecibo in the Puerto Rican BSN.
• Admiral Schofield (at Tennessee 2015-19) plays for LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket in the French Betclic ELITE ProA.
• Jarnell Stokes (at Tennessee 2011-14) plays for Sono Skygunners in the South Korean KBL.
• Lamonte Turner (at Tennessee in 2015-20) plays for Dynamic VP in the Serbian KLS.
• Santiago Vescovi (at Tennessee 2019-24) plays for BAXI Manresa in the Spanish Liga Endesa.

 
Photo credit: Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press