A childhood dream is nearing the end for the senior
Knoxville, Tenn. – Wearing ‘Tennessee’ across the chest has been a dream come true for Jordan Gainey.
Saturday was the mark of the final days the senior will suit up for the Orange and White.
As the final games and moments draw near, the senior reflects on his first moments as a Volunteers.
“I go back to when I first came here, and that was when I was in the USC Upstate jersey and had to play against Tennessee. And then I look at it from the other perspective about like, how I’m here now, and it’s really like crazy. Because I went from playing against them and then playing with them, and making those guys my brothers and just being able to really wear the Tennessee brand and call them my brothers,” said Jordan.
Though, it seemed Jordan was already a part of the family even before he made the transfer.
He spent previous summers working out with VFL’s Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden, and quickly made a lasting impression.
“It was great,” said Jordan. “You know, we worked out just about every day that summer. Me, LaMonte, and Jordan Brown, and it was just great. You know, we competed every day, worked out with G (Garrett Medenwald, Director of Men’s Basketball Sports Performance), and played one-on-ones for hours, just going at it, but it was amazing. You know, those guys are great. They’re legends here, and I learned a lot from them.”
It didn’t take long before those players went to head coach Rick Barnes to say if Jordan even transferred, ‘he’s one of us.’
“Seeing what those guys really had to say about me and how they talked highly about me too, Coach Barnes is special because they saw the talent in me,” said Jordan. “And I was just a kid at Upstate at that point, you know, just trying to get to those guys level and be like those guys.”
Not long after, those hopes would become reality.
At the conclusion of his sophomore season at USC Upstate, Jordan entered the transfer portal.
The decision seemed more obvious to some than others, especially for his mother, Courtney.
Courtney’s love for Barnes’ program began when her husband and Jordan’s dad, Justin, joined the coaching staff in 2021, so her favorite spot for their eldest son was clear.
“Yeah, I can say my mom, my mom, for sure, my youngest brothers, they’re probably the most happy that I did come. Just so I can go to their games, go home, see them, and just be with them a lot more now. Because before I could probably see them once a month… if they could come and watch a game, or come to Spartanburg, whatever. But I know my youngest brother is, for sure,” said Jordan.
His dad, now the associate head coach, tried to stay neutral during the process. However, that was harder said than done when it came to coaching his son during games. Exhibitions or not.
A couple of years during an exhibition game against Michigan State, Justin said he couldn’t even watch Jordan take free throws.
Now he’s watching Jordan hit game-winners against Illinois.
“I didn’t know what to expect whenever I first got here,” said Jordan. “You can’t really prepare yourself for what you what’s yet to come here at Tennessee.”
“But just to see the growth that we’ve had from when I first stepped on campus to now is truly amazing. Because at first I didn’t know how to be coached by him. I didn’t know how he was as a coach. But now it’s like, I see him, and it’s, it’s business every time we step foot on the court.”
As Jordan’s career reaches its final stage, Barnes said his only regret with Jordan is that he wasn’t here all four years.
“It’s special because it really, like shows what this program is all about and how it’s just really built on culture and a brotherhood and a family,” said Jordan. “That’s really the main reason why I did choose Tennessee because, you know, after the first phone call, I knew what it was, and I knew how everyone was a family here.”
While Jordan shares the same sentiment as his head coach, he knows it was better this way.
“Like, Coach Barnes said, I wish I could have been here for four years as well, but, you know, it was a part of my journey. And just being here for two and just making an impact how I did, and really calling this place home is just amazing,” said Jordan.
Jordan wasn’t heavily recruited in high school. A disappointing reality that he didn’t let defeat him, instead it motivated him to work harder.
“If I didn’t have a chip on my shoulder and didn’t have like, an underdog mentality, I wouldn’t be here,” said Jordan. “So just being able to carry that every single day in practice and every single day when I step on the court is just something I have to do, because I have to continue to build on that to get to where I really want to go, because I did that to get here. So just being able to have that dog mentality every time I step foot on the court, is what we need here and what I have to bring every day for the team.”
Only two more games are guaranteed in his career.
So during the senior day ceremony following the conclusion of the regular season, he took a moment to cherish how special the opportunity has been to play for his dad and at Tennessee.
“If anyone could ask their kid what they wanted to do, if they wanted to play basketball, who they wanted to be coached by, they obviously (would) say their dad,” said Jordan. But you know, when I walk off the court, I’m going to be like, ‘Wow, this is amazing. I really got to live out a dream that I’ve always had.’ And, you know, we just got to grow a connection.”
