Vols Forward Cade Phillips Faces Season-Ending Surgery

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In a significant development for the Tennessee basketball team, junior forward Cade Phillips will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-2026 season. The university made the announcement on Monday, revealing that Phillips requires surgery to address a persistent issue with his left shoulder.

Standing at 6-foot-9, Phillips has been a key player for Tennessee, participating in all ten games of the current season. His contributions were highlighted by earning his first collegiate start in a commanding victory over Northern Kentucky. Last season, he was a mainstay on the court, appearing in each of the 38 games played by the Volunteers.

With Phillips out for the season, head coach Rick Barnes will need to rely on other frontcourt players such as Felix Okpara, Jaylen Carey, JP Estrella, and DeWayne Brown to fill the void left by Phillips’ absence.

The news comes at a challenging time for the team, which has recently experienced a decline in the AP Poll following their third consecutive loss. The loss of a player like Phillips, who has been a consistent presence on the court, adds another layer of difficulty as the Volunteers look to regain their footing this season.

“We will sincerely miss having Cade on the court and he is certainly disappointed he won’t be able to play the rest of the season, but is essential that he gets healthy. Cade did all he could to play through the injury as long as he could,” Rick Barnes said in a statement. “We love Cade and we’ll do everything we can to support him. We know Cade will continue to help us this year, even from the sideline, because that is the type of person and teammate he is.”