Baulkman looks to continue offensive surge at Tennessee

Published 3:19 pm Friday, July 17, 2015

Former Bainbridge High School Bearcats All-Region 1AAAAA guard Devon Baulkman, who stands 6-feet-5-inches and weighs 200 pounds, will be beginning his senior season with coach Rick Barnes University of Tennessee Volunteers basketball team in 2015-16.

Baulkman, who played for coach Rickey McCullough’s Bearcats and is a senior at Tennessee, appeared in 31 games last season and started in seven. He was the first player off the bench eight times. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds a game. His .795 free throw percentage was second on the team. He hit 31 of 39 attempts from the free throw line. He also ranked second on the team with four drawn charges for the season.

In his three starts against other Southeastern Conference opponents last season, Baulkman averaged 3.7 points a game. He was the team’s fourth leading scorer and rebounder during the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville when he averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while averaging 20 minutes a game. He scored seven points, pulled down three rebounds, dished out one assist and had a steal against the Arkansas Razorback in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

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Baulkman was clutch off the bench in the Volunteers’ second round Southeastern Conference Tournament victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores. He scored 12 points, pulled down six rebounds and had two steals in what coach Barnes termed 23 highly productive minutes.

During the past regular season, Baulkman had what coach Barnes called an offensive eruption during a victory over the Mercer University Bears. He scored a season-high 22 points, pulled down six rebounds, had two steals and a big second half block in a key defensive possession. He scored a second 10-point performance in as many games and also had three rebounds and two steals against Tennessee Tech.