Rocky Top Roots Run Deep: Cade Phillips Opens Up on His Decision to Stay with Tennessee Vols
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — April 30, 2025
In a college basketball landscape increasingly defined by the transfer portal, NIL deals, and early NBA draft declarations, the idea of a player staying loyal to a program through thick and thin has become something of a rarity. Yet that’s exactly what Cade Phillips has done. The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, known for his high-motor energy, blue-collar work ethic, and flashes of offensive brilliance, officially confirmed last week that he will be returning to Rocky Top for the 2025–26 season.
Now, for the first time since making that decision, Phillips has spoken publicly—offering a raw, heartfelt, and deeply introspective account of why he chose to remain with the Tennessee Volunteers when so many of his teammates moved on.
“This Place Means Something to Me”
In a candid sit-down interview with Knoxville media inside the Pratt Pavilion practice facility, Cade Phillips looked both relaxed and resolute. Dressed in a grey Vols hoodie with a faded Power T stitched over his heart, he leaned forward when the first question was asked: Why stay?
He smiled before answering.
“It’s simple,” Phillips said. “This place means something to me. Tennessee isn’t just where I play basketball—it’s home. It’s the place that believed in me when I was just a high-energy kid from Jacksonville, Alabama trying to find my game and my confidence. That belief means more to me than anything the portal could offer.”
Phillips, who averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in just under 17 minutes per game last season, acknowledged the speculation that swirled around his future in March. Several programs reached out, especially after rumors circulated that Tennessee was undergoing a major roster overhaul. With Dalton Knecht entering the NBA Draft, Jonas Aidoo transferring to Arkansas, and Tobe Awaka heading to Arizona, many insiders assumed Phillips would be the next to exit.
But the sophomore had other ideas.
A Bond with Rick Barnes
“Coach Barnes is a big reason I stayed,” Phillips said firmly. “He’s hard on us—no question. But he’s honest. He tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. I came here to be pushed. To be coached. To grow as a man, not just as a player.”
Barnes, who is heading into his 11th season as Tennessee’s head coach, had nothing but praise for the returning forward.
“Cade’s one of those guys who brings it every single day,” Barnes said in a recent press conference. “He’s got grit, he’s coachable, and he cares about winning more than stats. That’s rare in today’s game.”
Sources close to the program revealed that Phillips received interest from several Power Five schools, including some with more immediate starting roles and lucrative NIL packages on the table. But for Cade, it wasn’t about spotlight—it was about roots, relationships, and responsibility.
A Team Leader Emerges
With the departure of locker room leaders like Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James, the Vols were in need of a new emotional anchor. Cade Phillips appears ready to fill that void.
“I’m not the loudest guy,” he admitted. “But I lead by example. I show up early, I leave late, and I push my teammates to do the same. This year, I want to be someone the young guys can lean on.”
One of those younger teammates is Bishop Boswell, a rising sophomore guard who called Phillips “the most reliable guy on the team.”
“When you’re new and trying to adjust to the speed of college ball, it helps to have someone like Cade in your corner,” Boswell said. “He doesn’t sugarcoat things, but he always helps you get better.”
Phillips has already taken on a mentorship role with incoming freshman DeWayne Brown II and Troy Henderson, both of whom will join the team this summer.
A New Role, A New Cade
Phillips is also expected to take on a bigger role in the rotation, with Rick Barnes hinting that he may start the season as the team’s primary power forward.
“Cade’s been working on extending his range,” Barnes said. “He’s shooting with more confidence and his lateral quickness has improved. He’s more versatile now than he was even six months ago.”
Asked about his evolving game, Phillips lit up.
“I’ve been in the gym every morning at 6 a.m. since the season ended. I’m working on the mid-range, corner threes, switching on defense—anything I can do to stay on the floor longer. I want to be the guy Barnes can’t afford to take out.”
Tennessee fans have already seen flashes of what Phillips can become. In a January clash against Auburn, he tallied a season-high 12 points and 8 rebounds in 19 minutes, including a game-changing block in the final two minutes. Phillips says moments like that drive him—but it’s the losses that fuel his fire.
“We’ve Got Unfinished Business”
The Vols exited last year’s NCAA Tournament in the Sweet Sixteen, falling to an underdog Creighton team that caught fire from beyond the arc. Phillips called the loss “heartbreaking” and “unacceptable.”
“We let one slip. I don’t care who we lost to—if you wear Tennessee across your chest, you fight until the final buzzer. I didn’t feel like we did that. I owe this school more than that. That’s why I’m back.”
His tone turned almost defiant as he leaned into the microphone.
“We’ve got unfinished business. And I’m not leaving until we finish it.”
A Fan Favorite in the Making
Vol Nation has rallied behind Phillips’ decision, flooding his social media accounts with messages of support. Local businesses in Knoxville have already approached him for new NIL opportunities, including partnerships with fitness brands, local restaurants, and a possible appearance in an upcoming Vols-themed docuseries.
But Phillips insists his focus is strictly on basketball.
“I’m grateful for the support, truly,” he said. “But I didn’t come back for the cameras. I came back for the jersey. For my brothers. For the banner we haven’t hung yet.”
Looking Ahead
With returning big man Felix Okpara, rising forward J.P. Estrella, and a promising crop of recruits and transfers, the 2025–26 Tennessee squad is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing teams in the SEC.
But in a sea of uncertainty, one thing is clear: Cade Phillips is staying on Rocky Top—not because he had to, but because he wanted to.
And that, more than anything else, might be the key to Tennessee’s success next season.
“You don’t walk away from family,” Phillips said as he stood up to leave. “You fight for them. You grow with them. And when it’s your time, you lead them. That’s what I’m here to do.”
