A foot injury prevented J.P. Estrella from experiencing the infamous sophomore slump.
As he jumpstarts his third season, there are no signs of a redshirt sophomore slump for the 6-foot-11 forward who has been a bench spark through the first two games of the year. He’s posted back-to-back career nights, despite not logging a start.
Estrella’s latest was a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double to set career highs in both categories. He did so efficiently on 8-for-11 shooting, adding three assists while posting a team-best 29 plus-minus in 20 minutes of action.
“It changes everything,” head coach Rick Barnes said. “And he can do more. I promise you he can do more of that.”
The early-season steps forward show he is capable of doing more. Estrella’s campaign began against Mercer with a then-career-high 12 points in 20 minutes off the bench. He added five rebounds, which tied his career high at the time in the win.
Saturday’s effort put more on display. He doubled his rebound total, and then some, with 11 — hauling in six offensive boards, which alone would have served as a career-high in total boards.
It is continued strides from where he ended his freshman season. Estrella carved out a role late during his first year when the Vols faced National Player of the Year Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers in the Elite Eight.
He played 15 minutes in the matchup, holding his own against Edey when Jonas Aidoo could not. Though he only scored two points in the matchup and committed three fouls, there was enough promise shown for what was ahead.
“You think back at the end of his freshman year, you felt like he was making the strides,” Barnes said. “And he still doesn’t have a clue how good he can be.”
But Barnes has had to speak with Estrella on a deeper level to unlock that potential.
“He’s such a humble, freeloving guy,” Barnes said. “And I told him, I said, ‘You can be like that, but when you go get on the floor, you gonna have to change the way you see things, the way you do things.’ There’s just so much more there. And I think he’ll get there.”
Estrella, unlocking his own game, opens the lane for the rest of the offense to flow, too. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament, Tennessee’s focal points on offense, went for a combined 43 points in the win.
The two put tough shooting nights against Mercer in the past to guide a 52% shooting effort against Northern Kentucky. It helped to have Estrella’s efficiency in the middle to rely on.
“It really helps because I mean, nobody can really stop him down there in the paint,” Gillespie said. “So, if he’s using his size and playing how he’s been playing, then we should be really good.”
“I just think it helps shooters like me, Ja’Kobi, and everyone else on the team get more space,” Ament said. “They got to respect him. They got help on his post-ups. So, the better he’s playing offensively, the better we’ll be playing as a team.”
Even on the defensive end, where Barnes’ identity remains, there is always room for improvement. It’s not just an Estrella improvement; it’s a team improvement Barnes wants to see.
“I don’t think any of them are where we need them to be yet,” Barnes said. “Is he getting there? He will, the more he’s out there.”
