The Tennessee Volunteers are on fire this season, still undefeated after another win against Middle Tennessee on Monday night. With that victory, Rick Barnes’ squad extended their winning streak to 12 and are now ranked No. 1 in the AP rankings. However, they’ve received some unexpected news that could impact their roster plans, as Coach Barnes recently addressed Cameron Carr’s departure.

Before the Volunteers faced MTSU on Monday, a surprising update broke: sophomore guard Cameron Carr had chosen to leave the team mid-season. Despite dealing with an injury that limited his playing time and kept him from fully breaking into the rotation, both fans and Coach Barnes were caught off guard by his decision to depart.

When discussing Carr’s decision with the media, Rick Barnes said, “I have no idea. He just walked out.” The coach expressed uncertainty about whether there was a specific reason behind Carr’s choice.

He continued, “We were obviously counting on him he’s been a part of our team and surprised his teammates they were very disappointed, and uh so from here on there nothing to really talk about he made his decision and um no reason I I mean it’s baffling to be quite honest with you.” 

This news is a setback for Tennessee, which has struggled with depth and consistency this season. Although Carr’s limited playtime hadn’t heavily affected the team’s progress, his potential as a future contributor makes his departure more disappointing. For Carr, this decision represents a chance to start anew and refocus his collegiate basketball journey on a different program.

Cameron Carr’s unexpected departure creates uncertainty for Tennessee’s roster plans

The 6-foot-5 wing played just four games this season, putting up 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and an assist in just over 10 minutes per game. He struggled with a thumb injury from a November win over Montana, which kept him out for what was supposed to be four to six weeks. The plan was for him to return by SEC play, but he never really got into the rotation, and now, his time with the Vols has come to a surprising halt.

What makes Carr’s decision even more interesting is the timing. The NCAA transfer portal doesn’t open until March 24, after the regular season ends. So, while he can’t officially enter the portal until then, he could still transfer to another school before that — though he’d have to sit out and wouldn’t be eligible to play until next season. Carr’s departure is especially unexpected, given the potential he showed as a young talent in Tennessee’s program.

As part of the 2023 recruiting class, Carr arrived in Knoxville with a lot of anticipation. In his freshman year, he played in 14 games but only averaged 4.3 minutes per game, scoring a total of 23 points in those limited minutes. Carr’s unexpected departure leaves the Volunteers with a gap in their roster. While his potential was clear, his absence will force Coach Barnes to adjust plans as the season continues.