Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall’s been on a bit of a hot streak in recent weeks when it comes to adding players to the program, and the good fortune continued Tuesday as former IUPUI guard Ian Chiles announced via his Instagram account that he’ll be a Volunteer. Chiles is a graduate transfer, meaning that he’ll be eligible to play immediately and he has one season of eligibility remaining.
Chiles’ decision came one day after he made an unofficial visit to the Tennessee campus, and it’s an area he’s familiar with since his sister played softball at the school from 2004-07.
Chiles, who was also considering Auburn and Maryland, averaged 15.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in 25 contests for IUPUI last season. Chiles shot 41.9% from the field and 31.4% from beyond the arc, and he led the Jaguars with a possession percentage of 27.9%. He and forward Mitch Patton were the offensive leaders on a team that won just six games last season, and it should be noted that Chiles have more assistance at Tennessee.
Chiles is the sixth player to join the program since Tyndall was hired, and any concerns that rose with the loss of an entire recruiting class following the departure of Cuonzo Martin have subsided.
Junior college transfers Devon Baulkman and Kevin Punter and freshman Detrick Mostella join Chiles in providing depth to a perimeter rotation that features Josh Richardson and a now-healthy Robert Hubbs III. And in the front court Tennessee has received commitments from incoming freshman Jabari McGhee and FGCU transfer Eric McKnight, with the latter being a graduate transfer who will be eligible immediately.