After missing the previous three contests with a left leg injury, Tennessee basketball’s J.P. Estrella is available for the Vols’ game at Missouri on Tuesday night.

Estrella has played 4.8 minutes per game in his freshman season and has seen important minutes in conference play. He often subs in for starting center Jonas Aidoo and is utilized when his height can be beneficial over a shorter bench option like Tobe Awaka.

The freshman has carried himself well in the opportunities he has been given in his first season in Knoxville. Estrella shoots an efficient 80% from the floor with most of his shots coming around the rim. 

Freshmen stepping up to the plate

The Vols have relied on their trio of true freshmen more this year than head coach Rick Barnes thought they would at the start of the year.

Tennessee went 2-1 in the three games that Estrella was absent for. Without him, fellow freshman big man Cade Phillips received more playing time including 10 minutes in the Vols’ blowout win over Vanderbilt. Freshman guard Cameron Carr also scored a career-high eight points in his 13 minutes of action.

“All those young guys need playing time,” head coach Rick Barnes said after the Vanderbilt game. “I have watched all the coaches talk about how the gap is not as wide anymore between them and older guys for how hard they practice. They have gotten better because of who they go against every day. I am proud that they tried to play the game the right way when they were out there.” 

Estrella will rejoin Carr and Phillips in the lineup as the Vols look to win their third game in a row and keep Missouri winless in conference play.  

The No. 5 Vols (19-6, 9-3 SEC) will tip off against the Tigers (8-17, 0-12) at 7 p.m ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.