Terrence Hill Jr. gives Tennessee basketball a spark, Ja’Kobi Gillespie replacement

Terrence Hill Jr. delivered the biggest sequence of his college career in the Men's NCAA Tournament for VCU, then spent less than a month deciding his encore belonged with Tennessee basketball.

Hill, a 6-foot-3 guard, committed to Tennessee on April 19, choosing the Vols over Kansas. He’s now positioned to compete for one of the starting guard jobs on a Tennessee roster that lost All-SEC guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie to the NBA draft.

Hill said he’d already pictured himself in Tennessee’s offense before making his visit to Knoxville, watching Gillespie’s ascent under coach Rick Barnes from afar.

“It was funny because last year I was watching the tournament when Tennessee played,” Hill said July 13. “I think it was the Sweet 16 game. I was like, ‘Ja’Kobi’s going crazy, that could be me out there.’ I was talking to my agent about it.”

Barnes saw that same potential when he made the commitment official.

“He is a dynamic player with speed, quickness, a strong basketball IQ and extreme confidence,” Barnes said in an April 20 school release. “Terrence can separate off the bounce and can put the ball in the basket from all three levels.”

Assistant coach Gregg Polinsky, who helped lead Hill’s recruitment, said the transfer's game reads like a pro.

“Really quick-handed, something that’s not talked about enough, like making a pocket pass,” Polinsky said. “Very NBA-like, and that window’s so small because guys are so long. He gets rid of that basketball in a hurry. We tell the bigs, turn your head. They’re starting to learn to play with him, but I think he’s making everybody better around him, and we all know he’s capable of scoring the ball.”

Terrence Hill Jr.’s breakout season at VCU

Hill arrived at VCU as a limited role player, then broke out as a sophomore. He played in all 36 games, starting just two, and still earned A-10 first team while also being selected the league's Sixth Man of the Year. He was also named the conference’s Most Improved Player and was the MVP of the A-10 Tournament.

He averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds, shooting 46.6% from the field and 37% from 3-point range. He played through a torn tendon in his right thumb over the final stretch of the season that didn’t seem to phase him much in March Madness.

VCU’s NCAA Tournament run put him on the national map. Facing sixth-seeded North Carolina in the first round, Hill sparked the largest comeback in tournament history, helping erase a 19-point before scoring the game-tying layup and hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in overtime. He finished with 34 points, 7 rebounds and an assist, with 24 of his points coming in the second half.

It was 11th-seeded VCU's first tournament win in a decade.

Terrence Hill Jr. finding his fit in Tennessee’s backcourt

The chemistry between the members of Tennessee’s new backcourt is starting strong.

“I feel like me and Dai Dai (Ames) have been doing a great job to start it off to lead the team,” Hill said. “I feel like the chemistry is going to come over time, but building that bond early is very special.”

He’s also spent more of practice time working away from the ball than he did at VCU, pointing to fellow transfers Ames and Juke Harris as two of the several new ball handlers who can carry the on-ball duties.

“I felt like guys are going to guard me different this year with the resume I had coming in from last year,” Hill said. “So being able to play with Dai Dai and Juke and those guys handling the ball is going to make it a lot easier for all of us.”

Hill said Barnes has zeroed in on two things to work on: pace and voice.

“My speed. I play at a different type of pace, but he wants me to pick up my pace more and get the team going,” Hill said. “Me using my voice more, taking on that leader role. Speed and leadership.”

Xavier Burton is a sports intern for Knox News. Email: Xavier.burton@knoxnews.com

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Terrence Hill Jr. gives Tennessee basketball a spark, Ja’Kobi Gillespie replacement