NCAA Basketball: 10 teams that should target Tennessee transfer Julian Phillips

Kansas State Wildcats

With All-American guard Markquis Nowell gone and possibly Keyontae Johnson too, Kansas State has a lot of roster spots to fill. They did land Tylor Perry of North Texas to run the backcourt but assuming that Johnson remains in the NBA Draft, the wing position has next to nothing on the roster for the program.

Seeing how both Nowell and Johnson excelled under Coach Jerome Tang has to be a major selling point. If Phillips has a big role and produces at the Big 12 level, his stock is going to be high a year from now. Most possible options have some potential spacing issues but at Kansas State, Phillips would be the lead option in the frontcourt and possibly overall.

Kentucky Wildcats

Continuing the theme of SEC programs needing a forward, Kentucky’s roster is currently in limbo due to multiple players. Besides starting center and National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe, the Wildcats also are dealing with starting wing Antonio Reeves and freshman forward Chris Livingston in the NBA Draft process as well. If both are gone, they don’t have other options outside of Justin Edwards.

Kentucky could try and have five-star big man Aaron Bradshaw play some at the four-spot but if Tshiebwe is gone, he’d have to be the center. They need another forward if 2 of those 3 players are gone and Phillips would benefit from playing on a national stage and being surrounded by as much talent as possible.