After being selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, Jahmai Mashack took to Instagram to officially say goodbye to Tennessee basketball, closing the chapter on a decorated four-year career with the Volunteers. Drafted with the final pick—No. 59 overall—by the Houston Rockets as part of a proposed trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, Mashack reflected on his journey and the impact of Vol Nation on his life.
“Vol Nation – To the countless fans who have become my family, I THANK YOU!” Mashack wrote. “You welcomed me. You appreciated my heart. You respected my commitment. You allowed me to boldly share my faith. You gave to the community WITH me. You encouraged me as I gave 110% of myself 100% of the time. THANK YOU for understanding ME.”
Mashack’s time at Tennessee ended in March after helping lead the program to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances—a first in school history. Known for his relentless energy and defensive prowess, Mashack never missed a single game during his collegiate career.
“In basketball, playing hard is a SKILL,” he wrote. “Being an elite, multi-positional player is a gift. And never missing a game in four years is the grace of God. You took this journey with me and together, along with my teammates, we won at a historic level.”
He ended his post with a nod to the drama of his draft night: “And lastly, in the most fitting of ways, you were right there with me for another BUZZER BEATER, when my name was the last one called as the 59th pick in the 2025 NBA DRAFT!!”
Mashack was one of two Tennessee players drafted this year. Fellow guard Chaz Lanier went earlier in the second round, taken 37th overall by the Detroit Pistons.
Jahmai Mashack capped off his Tennessee career with one of the most dominant defensive seasons in program history. A finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and a first-time All-SEC Defensive Team honoree, the senior guard anchored one of the nation’s elite defenses with his relentless intensity and versatility.
The Fontana, California native posted a defensive box plus-minus (DBPM) of 6.6 in his final season—ranking fourth nationally, according to College Basketball Reference. Over his career, Mashack’s DBPM averaged 6.12, placing him 11th among all Division I players with at least 50 games played from 2010 to 2025.
This season, Mashack held opponents to just 32.8% shooting as their primary defender and gave up a mere 0.585 points per possession on drives. He was one of only five Power Five players in the country to record at least 55 steals and 20 blocks—testament to both his quick hands and rim-protecting instincts from the perimeter.
With Mashack setting the tone, Tennessee finished third in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency (89.7) per KenPom. The Vols also ranked third in both 3-point percentage defense (28.2%) and effective field-goal percentage defense (44.7%), fourth in overall field-goal percentage allowed (38.3%), and 11th in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 63.0 points per game.
His defensive résumé not only helped Tennessee reach its second consecutive Elite Eight but also cemented Mashack’s legacy as one of the best on-ball defenders in college basketball over the past decade.
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