Aaron Bradshaw, a Former Five-Star Center, Leads Tennessee State Into Knoxville to Face No. 11 Tennessee
The 7-foot-1 Bradshaw, who played at Kentucky, Ohio State and Memphis, averages 14.3 points and 3.0 blocks for Nolan Smith's Tigers. Tennessee, 2-0 and allowing 53 points a game, tips off Friday at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee's first two opponents did not have anyone like Aaron Bradshaw. Tennessee State does.
The 7-foot-1 center, a former five-star recruit who started his career at Kentucky, leads the Tigers into Food City Center on Friday at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. He is averaging 14.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks through three games, all team highs, according to Tennessee State's game notes.
No. 11 Tennessee (2-0) has held Wofford and Radford to 53.0 points per game. Bradshaw is the first real test of the Vols' frontcourt.
Friday's game
- Matchup
- Tennessee State (2‑1) at No. 11 Tennessee (2‑0)
- Tip
- Fri., Nov. 13, 6 p.m. CT
- TV
- SEC Network+
- Arena
- Food City Center, Knoxville
- Series
- Tennessee leads 7‑0
- Last meeting
- Tennessee 89, Tennessee State 60 (Nov. 20, 2025)
Bradshaw's fourth stop
Bradshaw was a McDonald's All-American and the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2023 class according to both ESPN and Rivals, Tennessee State said when it signed him in May. He spent one season each at Kentucky, Ohio State and Memphis.
His production at those stops never matched the ranking. Over 77 games he averaged 6.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.6 minutes. His best year was last season at Memphis: 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds a game on 55.6% shooting.
I am excited about Aaron Bradshaw and excited for Tennessee State fansNolan Smith, via Tennessee State Athletics
At Tennessee State, he is the focal point. He scored 23 points in the 123-73 win over Fisk, when all five Tigers starters reached double figures, according to the school's notes.
What Tennessee State brings
Nolan Smith is in his second season as coach. The Tigers opened with a 94-64 loss to Murray State on Nov. 2 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., Dakota News Now reported, then beat East-West 127-61 and Fisk.
The passing stands out. The Tigers had 56 assists and 18 turnovers across the two wins, and point guard Ty-Laur Johnson had 11 points and 12 assists against Fisk.
Tennessee State's top scorers (per game, three games)
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Bradshaw | 14.3 | 6.7 | 3.0 blocks |
| Deondrea Lindsey | 12.7 | 3.3 | |
| Arterio Morris | 11.7 | 3.7 | 8 steals in last two games |
| Ty-Laur Johnson | 11.7 | 3.3 | 19 assists, team high |
| Jayden Jones | 10.0 | 4.7 |
Friday is Tennessee State's first true road game of the regular season. The Tigers went 23-10 last season, according to Yahoo Sports' game preview.
Tennessee's matchup inside
The Vols' answer for Bradshaw starts with DeWayne Brown II, who had 17 points and 17 rebounds against Wofford, according to the AP, and 12 rebounds against Radford. Miles Rubin gave Tennessee eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks off the bench Monday.
The defense has carried Tennessee so far. Radford shot 26.2% (16 of 61) and went 8:32 without a point during a 16-0 second-half run, according to Field Level Media.
The offense is the open question. Rick Barnes called it "atrocious" after Radford, and the Vols started 2 of 10 from the field before the first media timeout, according to Tennessee Volunteers On SI. Terrence Hill Jr. has carried the scoring with 17 points against Wofford and 18 against Radford.
Availability
Jalen Haralson went down on a hard foul with 7:51 left against Radford and showed discomfort in his right shoulder, Tennessee Volunteers On SI reported. He stayed in to shoot his free throws. No update on the shoulder has been published since, and Barnes' published postgame remarks did not address it.
Up next
After Friday, Tennessee plays host to Michigan State on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2. A week later the Vols open the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas against Maryland.
Sources: Tennessee State Athletics, Men's basketball game information: Big Blue visits Tennessee orange; Tennessee State Athletics, Men's basketball signs five-star transfer Aaron Bradshaw; Dakota News Now, Murray State men race past Tennessee State at Pentagon; Yahoo Sports, Tennessee State faces No. 11 Tennessee following Bradshaw's 23-point outing; Field Level Media via Southern Sports Today, Terrence Hill Jr., No. 11 Tennessee too strong for Radford; Tennessee Volunteers On SI, No. 11 Tennessee defeats Radford 70-47; Rocky Top Insider, Everything Rick Barnes said after win over Radford; AP via La Nacion, DeWayne Brown II 17 and 17 as No. 8 Tennessee beats Wofford; UTSports.com, Vols announce 2026-27 nonconference slate; ESPN Press Room, ESPN and SEC announce 2026-27 men's basketball schedule
