Amaree Abram on Rick Barnes: ‘He only recruits tough guys’

All-CUSA honorable mention guard Amaree Abram transferred from Louisiana Tech to Tennessee this offseason, joining his fourth school for his final season of eligibility. He is one of three players in the Volunteers’ incoming Transfer Portal class, joined by Vanderbilt forward Jaylen Carey and Maryland guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie.

Abram discussed the recruiting process and wanting to play for Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes on Tuesday.

“It’s an honor first off,” Abram said. “Just being tough, because [Rick Barnes] only recruits tough guys. Pretty sure if you weren’t able to handle it, you wouldn’t be able to come here. Just having a strong mindset, being coachable and being in shape with the amount of running we were some of the key points when he was recruiting me.”

In his junior season at Louisiana Tech last year, Abram averaged 12.3 points and 1.7 assists on a Bulldog team that finished with a 20-12 record. He has played all three of his collegiate seasons at different schools, with his freshman campaign coming at Ole Miss (2022-23), sophomore campaign at Georgia Tech (2023-24), junior campaign at Louisiana Tech (2024-25) and now his senior campaign at Tennessee (2025-26).

“Definitely has,” Abram responded when asked if Barnes had gotten on him yet. “This is my fourth program so I’m pretty much used to it. I’m a very coachable guy. I just take it as a positive because he just wants the best out of me and I want to get better too.”

Since Rick Barnes took over as head coach at Tennessee in 2015, he’s led the program to two Elite Eight’s, two Sweet Sixteen’s and a 232-109 (.680) record. He’ll return for his 11th season at the helm in 2025-26. The 2018 SEC Coach of the Year spoke highly of Abram back in April.

“Our entire coaching staff is excited to welcome Amaree and his family to Rocky Top. We wanted to find a guard with collegiate experience and to get someone who has already performed well in the SEC is a bonus,” Barnes said. “Amaree is a high-level athlete with quality defensive ability who can really shoot the ball from 3-point range. He takes pride in guarding the opponent’s best offensive player, which is a mindset we love here at Tennessee. Amaree is a mature young man with leadership skills who loves basketball and we think he is a strong fit for our program.”

Tennessee hauled in the No. 31 ranked transfer portal class and the No. 15 ranked high school recruiting class this offseason, headlined by small forward Nate Ament (No. 4 ranked player in class of 2025). The Volunteers come in at No. 12 in On3’s way-too-early college basketball top 25.