Maine Native J.P. Estrella Helps Power Tennessee Into Sweet 16

March Madness has gotten the Maine treatment once again this year.

That’s thanks to J.P. Estrella, the Scarborough/South Portland native who has been hooping it up.

J.P. Estrella has Become a Key Player for the Tennessee Volunteers

Estrella is a redshirt sophomore for the Tennessee Volunteers and is having an exceptional season. The 6'11" forward is averaging 10.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. His play has been so strong lately that he has worked his way into the starting lineup—not bad for a kid from Maine.

Estrella and the Vols entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed in the Midwest bracket and faced a tough challenge in their Round of 64 game against Miami (Ohio). However, Tennessee handled the pesky RedHawks and won going away, 78–56.

Estrella had a fantastic game, recording 14 points and 10 rebounds—his fifth double-double of the season.

The win set up a monster matchup against the University of Virginia, with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

Estrella dealt with foul trouble early in the game against the Cavaliers but came on strong in the second half, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds, and a crucial late steal to help the Vols reach the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year.

When Does Tennessee Play Next in the NCAA Tournament?

Tennessee now faces the No. 2 seed in its bracket, the Iowa State Cyclones, with the winner earning a trip to the Elite Eight. That game will be played on Friday, March 27, in Chicago, with the game time to be announced at a later date.

READ MORE: Maine Native Cooper Flagg Breaks Another NBA Record in Historic Rookie Season

Best of luck to J.P. and the Vols in the second week of the tournament. It’s exciting to think another Mainer is just a few wins away from a trip to the Final Four—but one game at a time. It all starts with a big matchup against Iowa State.