Uros Plavsic thanks fans, says goodbye to Tennessee basketball program

Senior center Uros Plavsic on Monday afternoon said goodbye to the Tennessee basketball program with a note addressing Tennessee fans on social media. The 7-foot Serbian big man spent the last four years with the Vols after transferring from Arizona State.

“Dear Tennessee,

“The time I spent on Rocky Top these past 4 years has taught me a lot of valuable lessons. The University of Tennessee gave me an opportunity to grow as a player but more importantly as a man. To everyone that’s been a part of this beautiful journey — THANK YOU. I have been blessed to represent myself, my family and my country as well as this University.

“Vol Nation, I will forever remain grateful for the love and support I reviewed from you throughout the years. It’s been a lot of ups and downs but I can promise you that I GAVE MY ALL FOR TENNESSEE.

“As this chapter of my life closes, I am ready to begin the next. Playing professional basketball has always been one of the biggest dreams to me. I have decided to go after that goal and follow my dreams. I will be back on Rocky Top soon to celebrate more wins with the next generation of Vols.

“VOL FOR LIFE! Uros Plavsic”

Uros Plavsic averaged 3.7 points, 2.8 rebounds over 101 games at Tennessee

Plavsic started 45 times in 101 career games over four season at Tennessee. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game during his four seasons with the Vols.

He scored a career-high 19 points and played a career-high 26 minutes in the loss to Kentucky in January at Thompson-Boling Arena. He grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in the win at South Carolina in January. 

He started 20 times in 34 games this season, averaging a career-best 4.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game. He shot 63.6 percent from the field. He averaged 4.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game as a junior in 2021-22, starting 21 times in 35 games. 

It has been an offseason of change for a Tennessee basketball roster that had five scholarship seniors last season, with Plavsic alongside wing Josiah-Jordan James, guard Santiago Vescovi, forward Olivier Nkamhoua and guard Tyreke Key.

James and freshman Julian Phillips are going through the NBA Draft process. Nkamhoua on March 30 entered the NCAA Transfer Portal but could still end up playing professionally next season. Freshman guard BJ Edwards entered his name in the portal earlier this month and is headed to SMU.

The Vols signed three transfers out of the portal in USC Upstate guard Jordan Gainey, Harvard forward Chris Ledlum and Northern Colorado wing Dalton Knecht.

Tennessee will add freshman guard Freddie Dilione and freshman wing DJ Jefferson to the rotation next season. Dilione reclassified and enrolled early, joining the Vols in January. Four-star forward JP Estrella, four-star wing Cameron Carr and three-star forward Cade Phillips will join the program over the offseason.

Plavsic had to fight for eligibility after transfer from Arizona State

Plavsic in November 2019 was initially ruled ineligible after transferring to Tennessee from Arizona State. The Vols appealed the decision but were turned down, but Plavsic was ruled eligible in January of the same season, just days before a game at Georgia where he made his debut with the Vols, scoring five points and grabbing three rebounds in 17 minutes. 

Plavsic, originally from Serbia, played high school basketball at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga. He was first committed to Cleveland State before enrolling at Arizona State.

Drazen Zlovaric, who was a graduate-assistant at Tennessee during the first two seasons of the Rick Barnes era, was the link for Plavsic at both Cleveland State and Arizona State. He was at Cleveland State when Plavsic committed there, then spent the 2018-19 season on the Arizona State staff.

Plavsic in his first season at Tennessee played 7.3 minutes per game, making three starts in 16 appearances. He averaged 2.6 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. He started once in 16 games the following season, in 2020-21, averaging 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in just 4.4 minutes per game.