Cameron Carr “just walked out” of Tennessee basketball’s program, Rick Barnes told the media following UT’s win over Middle Tennessee State on Monday night. It was reported earlier in the day prior to tipoff that the sophomore guard was leaving the Vols with the intentions of entering the transfer portal.
“I have no idea,” Barnes said when asked about Carr’s decision. “He just walked out.
“I think they probably didn’t understand the rule. I don’t know that but that is what I would assume. We were obviously counting on him being part of the team. Surprised his teammates. They were very disappointed. So from here on, there is nothing to really talk about. He made his decision. No reason. It’s baffling to be quite honest with you.”
Carr played in just four games this season due to a left thumb injury that he suffered in November. Tennessee announced that Carr would miss four to six weeks four days after he injured his thumb in UT’s 103-68 win over Austin Peay on Nov. 17. He scored four points in the victory, making his lone three-point attempt and, for the second time in his career, blocked two shots.
The Eden Prairie, Minn. native scored 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting in 16 minutes during UT’s 92-57 win over Montana on Nov. 13. Carr was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, adding two assists to set career highs in points, made free throws, free-throw attempts and minutes, while tying his top mark in made field goals and assists.
“To be honest with you I am not surprised,” Barnes said. “It didn’t surprise me. I actually made that comment to the coaches. That is all I can tell you. Are you are asking if we think about it? We think about it all the time. We are around these guys all the time. We know when guys are locked in and when they’re not. We know guys. We know these guys like the back of our hand. They talk. We talk. If you ask me, I was not the least bit surprised.”
Carr averaged 4.8 points per game and 1.5 rebounds in Tennessee’s first four games of the season. He averaged 10.6 minutes off the bench, was 5-of-8 (62.5%) from the floor, 7-of-9 at the free throw line (77.8%) and 2-of-5 from three. Carr dished out four assists and blocked a pair of shots.
“At the end of the day, that is my brother off the court,” Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler said. “Wish him the best. Can’t wish him nothing but the best. That is my boy still no matter what. I wish him the best in whatever decisions he makes. Wherever he goes, I am still going to be behind his back. I just wish him the best in whatever.”
Carr played in 14 games as a true freshman last season, including six in SEC play and two in the NCAA Tournament. He scored 23 points and dished out seven assists in 60 minutes, scoring in half of his appearances and making at least one 3-pointer in five of them.
“His decision is his decision at the end of the day,” Zeigler said. “He is his own person. We can wish him nothing but the best. It was — I wouldn’t say unexpected or (I) expected it or anything like that. But like I said before, just wishing him the best.”
“Definitely wish him the best,” Chaz Lanier added. :He just told us he loves us and that he felt like it was the best opportunity for him.”
