Ja’Kobi Gillespie is set to make his first appearance in the Men’s NCAA Tournament after transferring to Tennessee basketball.
Gillespie’s first opportunity will be on March 20 against Miami of Ohio. The Vols begin March Madness as a No. 6 seed.
The senior guard earned All-SEC accolades after his best season with the Vols.
Gillespie’s Roots in Tennessee
Gillespie is from Greeneville, Tennessee.
He attended Greenville High School and led the Greene Devils to consecutive state championships in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, he was named Tennessee Mr. Basketball for Class 3A.
Gillespie’s Stats and Profile
- Gillespie is 6-foot-1 and weighs 188 pounds.
- He was born on March 10, 2004, making him 24 years old.
Gillespie was an All-SEC guard, leading Tennessee with 18 points and 5.5 assists. He also averaged 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals. Gillespie shot 40.7% from the floor and 33.2% from 3-point range.
From Belmont to Tennessee
Gillespie initially committed to Belmont after graduating from high school, choosing basketball over football offers from Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech. He spent two years with the Bruins, becoming a consistent starter in his second season.
In 2024, Gillespie transferred to Maryland. He was the second-leading scorer behind Derik Queen. Gillespie averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals for the Terrapins in their run to the Sweet 16.
Gillespie transferred to Tennessee for his senior season in 2025.
Gillespie’s first opportunity in March Madness will be against No. 11 Miami of Ohio.