Larry Bird is the most recognized Indiana State basketball player of all time, but it was Tyreke Key who had Tennessee fans excited Saturday night.
Key, who started 97 of his 114 career games for the Sycamores and averaged 14.5 points in the process, announced via social media that he would be playing his fifth and final college season with Rick Barnes and the Volunteers. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound guard is returning to Tennessee, having played at Clay County High School in Celina near the Kentucky state line.
“Home Sweet Home,” Key posted on Twitter, adding emojis of an orange heart and an orange.
Key signed with the Sycamores in 2017 and was productive from the start, making the Missouri Valley Conference all-freshman team for the 2017-18 season and earning All-MVC second-team honors as a sophomore. He was an All-MVC first-team selection for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, averaging 17.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 2020-21.
After deciding to use his extra year due to the coronavirus outbreak in Terre Haute, Key eventually underwent shoulder surgery and did not play this past season. His 1,650 career points with the Sycamores ranks sixth in program history, and he wound up picking the Vols over Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas Tech.