Following the transfer portal can be a bit overwhelming, as thousands of college basketball players at every level of this sport are looking for a better or more profitable situation. It’s understandable to feel exhausted by the constant movement on virtually every college’s roster, especially some players who seem to transfer every year. Dai Dai Ames is an example of this, though it feels like he’s found a really solid landing spot for his fourth school.
He’s a 6-1 guard out of Chicago who was originally considered a Top 75 recruit in the Class of 2023. Ames wound up at Kansas State and had a decent role for the Wildcats before finding his footing in the ACC. As a sophomore, Ames was a more reliable guard during something of a lost season for Virginia before transferring again, this time ending up out west at California.
NEWS: Cal transfer guard Dai Dai Ames has committed to Tennessee, his agent Adam Papas of @nxtsportsagency told @On3.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 11, 2026
The 6-2 junior averaged 16.9 PPG this season, earning All-ACC Third Team honors. Previously played at Kansas State and Virginia.https://t.co/P2CLLLO2iq pic.twitter.com/y7ON6k6zCW
Tennessee lands California transfer Dai Dai Ames
Finally thrust into a major role, Ames was a full-time starter in the Golden Bears’ backcourt, averaging 16.9 points and 2.2 assists this past season. He was a reliable scorer and also made nearly 38% of his 3-pointers, filling an important role on a Cal team that won 22 games and finished in the middle of the pack in the ACC.
Ames unsurprisingly had a plethora of standout performances, notably dropping 31 points at Wake Forest in Cal’s regular season finale. He added 27 points in their ACC Tournament loss to Florida State, putting a bow on what was a solid step forward in his career. However, Ames once again put himself into the transfer portal, seeking a fourth school in four years.
After due consideration, Ames is heading to Tennessee and will hope to be a major playmaker on a team that continues to make waves in the SEC. Rick Barnes and company are fresh off a third straight trip to the Elite Eight, but have quite the offseason ahead. Stars Nate Ament and Ja’Kobi Gillespie are both gone, with the Volunteers also losing players like Bishop Boswell and J. P. Estrella into the portal.
There’s clearly a major role for Ames at Tennessee and he creates quite the 1-2 punch with fellow transfer addition Tyler Lundblade from Belmont. The Volunteers are acting fast and have already landed two of the biggest names in the portal. Barnes and company know how to build something and Ames just might have landed in the best situation of his collegiate career. Can the former Third Team All-ACC guard continue to be a menace on offense while also contributing to Tennessee’s stout defense?