JP Estrella, a Maine native and former South Portland High star, is entering the NCAA transfer portal after three seasons with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team.

Estrella, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound power forward, made the announcement Monday via his Instagram page. The junior enters the portal, which officially opens Tuesday, with two years of eligibility remaining.

“After a lot of thought and conversations with my family, I have made the difficult decision to enter the transfer portal,” Estrella wrote. “My time as a Vol over the past three years has meant more to me than I can put into words, and I will always cherish the memories and relationships I’ve built here.

“Thank you to my coaches, teammates and Vol Nation for the constant love, support and belief in me. While this decision wasn’t easy, I’m excited and hopeful for what the next chapter holds.”

Estrella appeared in 33 games and started 13 this year for Tennessee, averaging 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds. The Volunteers reached their third consecutive NCAA regional final, falling to Michigan in the Elite Eight to finish with a 25-12 record.

He played in 25 games as a freshman and missed all but three games in 2024-25 because of a foot injury.

Estrella, a Scarborough native, played two seasons at South Portland from 2020-22. He then transferred to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, for his senior year.