As Tennessee navigates the grind of SEC play, familiar pressure points have emerged: turnovers, late-game composure, and the need for consistent interior production. One player positioned to influence all three is forward JP Estrella.
His development could help determine the Volunteers’ ceiling in the coming weeks.
“He’s definitely key, you know, he I think he is a great big,” said former Vols forward John Fulkerson.
Estrella’s role has fluctuated as he works back from a foot injury and an ankle and knee issue earlier this season. His minutes are still down in SEC play averaging 11.8 minutes. Fulkerson believes patience is essential for big men returning to form under Rick Barnes.
“I had a lot of injuries in my career, and coming back from those, you know, it takes time,” Fulkerson said. “It is mental, it is physical. You need game reps.”
Those reps, Fulkerson said, are about rediscovering physicality in one of the SEC’s most demanding systems.
Barnes’ message to him has been clear.
“Coach Barnes told me to be a little nasty,” Estrella said. “When I get into the paint, be aggressive on those moves.”
That lesson became more evident following Tennessee’s loss to Florida, a game Estrella said revealed the standard required to compete consistently.
“I really realized I need to be more physical,” Estrella added. “A little less finesse, a little more nasty.”
A sentiment Fulkerson agreed with, especially ahead of Tennessee’s contest with Alabama on Saturday.
“I think that he has great potential,” Fulkerson said. “His ceiling is really high, and we need him to play like he was before.”
In Barnes’ system, post players are expected to anchor the defense, rebound relentlessly, and impose their presence every possession, responsibilities that become more challenging when confidence is still catching up to health.
“You can go as hard as you can in practice,” Fulkerson said, “but those game reps are just a little bit different.”
Estrella acknowledged that consistency remains his primary focus as SEC play continues.
“Coach Barnes expects 100 percent out of you every day,” he said. “So just trying to bring that energy every single day and learn from it.”
Signs of progress are beginning to show.
“I feel like last game I took a big step forward with my physicality,” Estrella said. “Now it’s just playing more confident, finishing my shots, getting a couple more rebounds, and blocking shots.”
Fulkerson believes that growth will continue with time and opportunity.
“I think every game, he will continue to get better, his spring, his pop, his quick step will will return. He’s had a few plays that maybe he would have made before, but I think that that confidence and his rhythm will return at some point.”
Against an Alabama team that has a boost to its front court in 7’0″ Charles Bediako, Estrella providing valuable production will be critical.
For Tennessee, Estrella’s development is about more than individual production. As Fulkerson noted, winning often comes down to fundamentals.
“For me, the biggest two things in a game overall are rebounding and turnovers,” he said.
Estrella has yet to recorded double-digit total rebounding effort in conference play. He’s also coming off just his second game with zero rebounds.
As SEC play intensifies, Estrella’s ability to embrace Barnes’ demand for physicality and consistency could help Tennessee stabilize its interior play and control the margins that decide close game.
