Ja'Kobi Gillespie's March Madness Debut with Tennessee Basketball Ja'Kobi Gillespie, a senior guard for the University of Tennessee basketball team, is set to make his first appearance in the Men's NCAA Tournament on March 20. The No. 6 seed Volunteers (22-11) will face No. 11 Miami of Ohio (32-1) at Xfinity Mobile Arena, marking Gillespie's opportunity to contribute to his hometown team's deep run in the tournament. The 24-year-old player, born on March 10, 2004, has been a key figure for Tennessee this season, earning All-SEC honors and leading the team with 18 points and 5.5 assists per game. His performance also includes 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and a 40.7% shooting average from the floor, along with a 33.2% three-point accuracy. Gillespie's journey to Tennessee basketball began in Greeneville, Tennessee, where he attended Greenville High School. As a standout player, he led the Greene Devils to their first state championship in 2021 and repeated the feat in 2022. His exceptional high school career earned him the title of 2022 Tennessee Mr. Basketball for Class 3A. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 188 pounds, Gillespie's skills and leadership on the court have been evident throughout his collegiate career. Before joining Tennessee, Gillespie committed to Belmont University after high school. He chose basketball over Power Four football offers from Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech, spending two years with the Bruins. During his time at Belmont, he became a consistent starter, particularly in his second season. In 2024, Gillespie transferred to the University of Maryland, where he played a pivotal role in the team's run to the Sweet 16. As the second-leading scorer behind future NBA draft prospect Derik Queen, he averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.#university_of_tennessee #xfinity_mobile_arena #march_madness #ja_kobi_gillespie #greeneville_tennessee
