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Tennessee Basketball: Tyreke Key will be impact scorer for Volunteers

By Matt Melton

HONOLULU, HI - DECEMBER 23: Tyreke Key #11 of the Indiana State Sycamores tries to knock the ball away from Noah Robotham #5 of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels during the first half of their game at Stan Sheriff Center on December 23, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - DECEMBER 23: Tyreke Key #11 of the Indiana State Sycamores tries to knock the ball away from Noah Robotham #5 of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels during the first half of their game at Stan Sheriff Center on December 23, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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Looking back at the 2021-22 season, Tennessee Basketball was undoubtedly one of the top teams in the SEC, led by one of the conference’s top backcourts.

With Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler both potentially set to return next season (Vescovi entered NBA Draft with option to return), the guard position will certainly be a strength for Tennessee Basketball once again, even despite losing Kennedy Chandler to the NBA.

While those returns are certainly a big reason for that, incoming freshman BJ Edwards will also likely play a key role in that group. However, one of the biggest potential impacts from that group could come through the Volunteers latest edition in Indiana State transfer Tyreke Key.

Tyreke Key will be an impact scorer for Tennessee Basketball

A full-time starter at Indiana State for each of the past three seasons, you will be hard to find a transfer this offseason with a better track record of success offensively.

The 6-foot-3 guard is coming off a 2021-22 season in which he averaged 17.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 2 APG, shooting a phenomenal 47.2% from the field and 83.8% from the free throw line.

This was not just a one-year thing for Key however as the three-time All-MVC selection has averaged 15+ PPG each of the last three seasons at Indiana State, as well as having averaged a career 14.5 PPG and 4.4 RPG for the Sycamores. In fact, you could also argue 2021-22 was a down shooting year for Key as he shot 31.6% from three, which is well below his career average of 37.4%.

While the jump from the MVC to the SEC will certainly be a big one, Key has everything needed to be an impact player for Tennessee Basketball this upcoming season, especially on the offensive end.

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Yes, there is certainly the chance that Key doesn’t even start for the Volunteers in 2022-23 if Vescovi does return to Knoxville. However, expect the talented guard to be a significant piece of Tennessee’s team next season regardless, and for the senior to rank among the Volunteers leaders in scoring.

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