Report: Tennessee has reached out to Georgetown transfer Mac McClung

Georgetown guard Mac McClung entered his name into the transfer portal on Wednesday afternoon, putting a proven 15+ points per game scorer on the open market. McClung initially had his name in the NBA Draft, but chose to withdraw and transfer instead.

Now he’s going to be the most sought after player in the country. McClung comes out of Gate City, Virginia, which is just over the Tennessee state line. If he’s looking for a big time destination close to home, Knoxville makes a lot of sense.

So much sense, in fact, that Rick Barnes and Tennessee were one of the first schools to reach out to the dynamic point guard.

Due to current NCAA rules, McClung would be forced to sit out next season. But he could always apply for a waiver to obtain immediate eligibility. He’s expected to do just that, according to Evan Daniels.

Tennessee doesn’t currently have room on the roster for McClung, but as we’ve seen before, things can be rearranged if need be. The Volunteers have Santiago Vescovi ready to build off of a solid freshman season. Oregon transfer Victor Bailey will also become eligible this season. Five-star guards Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer will join the team in the fall, adding more firepower to a backcourt that already features former five-star prospect Josiah Jordan-James.

One situation to keep in mind here is the status of Yves Pons, who is currently entered in the NBA Draft. Pons can still return, but if he keeps his name in, Tennessee would then have a scholarship available.

McClung averaged over 13 points as a freshman in 2018-19, where he was named to the Big East All-Freshman team. He averaged over 15 points per game as a sophomore, shooting over 32 percent from three-point range.

The 6-2 point guard doesn’t exactly fill a need on Tennessee’s roster, but few programs in the country would turn down an NBA level point guard.

On the floor, McClung is a human highlight reel. He was a legend in high school, scoring 42 points per game as a senior on his way to breaking state records previously held by Allen Iverson.

Landing McClung would give Tennessee perhaps the most talented backcourt in the country. The question is — would he be open to joining such a crowded guard rotation? And how can Tennessee make room?