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Tennessee’s Davonte Gaines, Drew Pember in NCAA transfer portal

Knoxville News-Sentinel file photo by Calvin Mattheis via AP / Davonte Gaines, pictured, and fellow sophomore forward Drew Pember have put their names in the NCAA transfer portal after playing their first two college seasons at Tennessee.
Knoxville News-Sentinel file photo by Calvin Mattheis via AP / Davonte Gaines, pictured, and fellow sophomore forward Drew Pember have put their names in the NCAA transfer portal after playing their first two college seasons at Tennessee. Knoxville News-Sentinel file photo by Calvin Mattheis via AP / Davonte Gaines, pictured, and fellow sophomore forward Drew Pember have put their names in the NCAA transfer portal after playing their first two college seasons at Tennessee.

By David Paschall 1 min read

Two Tennessee sophomore basketball players, guard Davonte Gaines and forward Drew Pember, entered the NCAA transfer portal Friday.

Gaines played in 19 games this season after playing in 29 as a freshman, with his minutes dropping from 10.4 to 3.6 per game and his scoring average dipping from 2.5 points to 0.7 as well. The 6-foot-7, 181-pounder from Buffalo, New York, was a stellar defender but unfortunately will be remembered for missing a pair of late free throws in the recent 73-68 Southeastern Conference tournament semifinal loss to Alabama.

The 6-10, 190-pound Pember played at Bearden High School in Knoxville and competed in 22 games as a Tennessee freshman but only 10 this season. He scored just two points as a sophomore.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.

photo Knoxville News-Sentinel file photo by Calvin Mattheis via AP / Davonte Gaines, pictured, and fellow sophomore forward Drew Pember have put their names in the NCAA transfer portal after playing their first two college seasons at Tennessee.