PHILADELPHIA , PA. — JP Estrella isn’t one who hides his emotions.
So as the NCAA Tournament approached, his excitement was easy to spot.
“I mean, super excited,” Estrella said. “The second that jump ball started, I was like, ‘Oh yeah… we’re back.’”
A year ago, Estrella wasn’t on the court. The junior forward spent most of last season on the bench, rehabbing a season-ending foot injury that limited him to just three games.
Now, he’s back and making an impact.
“I feel great being back out there and contributing for the team,” Estrella said.
Tennessee is counting on that contribution as it makes another postseason run. For Estrella, the tournament represents more than just another opportunity. It’s a chance to make up for lost time.
“I’m just super excited that we won this first one,” he said. “Super excited that we got a second one coming up.”
That energy showed up immediately. In Tennessee’s opening-round win over Miami (Ohio), Estrella recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes, his first double-double since the regular season finale.
For most players, it’s just a stat line. For Estrella, it reflects a year’s worth of work behind the scenes.
Teammate Cade Phillips saw that work firsthand. The two have been roommates for the past two seasons, giving Phillips a close view of Estrella’s recovery.
“He literally went into his injury last year and just worked as hard as he could on what he could control,” Phillips said.
Because of that, Estrella’s development hasn’t come as a surprise to those around him.
“To see what he’s turned into as the year has progressed… it’s no surprise,” Phillips said. “It’s more than expected.”
That growth is evident in multiple areas of Estrella’s game, including a hook shot that has become one of his most reliable weapons.
“His hook shot is like nothing else in the world,” Phillips said. “There is nobody else I think that has a better hook, maybe other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. So when he gets that left shoulder, it’s going in.”
Center Felix Okpara has seen that consistency up close.
“He don’t miss,” Okpara said. “That’s what’s impressive… he don’t miss. He gets to any spot around the court… he don’t miss his work.”
Beyond the numbers, teammates point to Estrella’s presence and energy as key factors for Tennessee.
“Me and JP, we spend a lot of time together,” Okpara said. “He’s one of my best friends.”
That connection translates onto the court.
“He knows I’m gonna be there for the lobs… or I know he’s gonna be there,” Okpara said. “That connection just makes it better for the team.”
For Phillips, Estrella’s return carries an emotional weight as well.
“It brings me joy to see him play the way he has,” Phillips said. “For him to finally let all the work that he’s put in over the last two years come into fruition… it’s incredible.”
After missing nearly an entire season, Estrella has gained a new perspective on the game.
“Yeah, it’s crazy to think about how much time I missed last year,” he said. “But I learned a lot during that time.”
As Tennessee prepares for its second-round matchup against Virginia, Estrella is focused on enjoying every moment.
“I’m just excited to be out there with my team… and just have fun playing basketball,” he said.
